by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study engineering physics/applied physics, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 14 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing engineering physics/applied physics, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly engineering physics/applied physics colleges below:
Our analysis ranked Ohio State University-Main Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in engineering physics/applied physics. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the engineering physics/applied physics program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong engineering physics/applied physics program will find one at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about engineering physics/applied physics at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Colorado School of Mines came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the engineering physics/applied physics program at Colorado School of Mines
A rank of #4 makes University of Wisconsin-Platteville one of the top engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veteran students. University of Wisconsin-Platteville scores 80.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full engineering physics/applied physics report for University of Wisconsin-Platteville
University of Colorado Boulder is a great choice for veterans pursuing engineering physics/applied physics, landing the #5 spot this year. University of Colorado Boulder scores 78.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full engineering physics/applied physics report for University of Colorado Boulder
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Cornell University placed #6 among the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the engineering physics/applied physics program at Cornell University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign placed #7 among the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the engineering physics/applied physics program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of California-Berkeley ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. University of California-Berkeley scores 73.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about engineering physics/applied physics at University of California-Berkeley
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach scores 73.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 64.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full engineering physics/applied physics report for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Murray State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best engineering physics/applied physics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full engineering physics/applied physics report for Murray State University
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Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing engineering physics/applied physics. Tulane University of Louisiana scores 68.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 41.4, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full engineering physics/applied physics report for Tulane University of Louisiana
Delaware State University landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing engineering physics/applied physics. Delaware State University scores 68.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about engineering physics/applied physics at Delaware State University
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing engineering physics/applied physics. The school's overall veterans score is 66.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the engineering physics/applied physics program at Stephen F Austin State University
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #14 for veteran engineering physics/applied physics students this year. It scores 60.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 39.3, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about engineering physics/applied physics at Columbia University in the City of New York
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying engineering physics/applied physics: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
