by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study materials engineering, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 64 colleges that serve veteran materials engineering students especially well, 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).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Explore the leading materials engineering colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked Ohio State University-Main Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in materials engineering. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the materials engineering program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the materials engineering program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full materials engineering report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Veteran students seeking a strong materials engineering program will find one at University of Alabama at Birmingham, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 87.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 87.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about materials engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus
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Stony Brook University came in at #6 for veteran materials engineering students this year. It scores 87.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at Stony Brook University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology came in at #7 for veteran materials engineering students this year. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology scores 86.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the materials engineering program at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Florida placed #8 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about materials engineering at University of Florida
Winona State University landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. It scores 86.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at Winona State University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #10 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about materials engineering at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #11 for veteran materials engineering students this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. It scores 85.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the materials engineering program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Kentucky ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about materials engineering at University of Kentucky
Boise State University came in at #14 for veteran materials engineering students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the materials engineering program at Boise State University
University of Central Florida came in at #15 for veteran materials engineering students this year. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the materials engineering program at University of Central Florida
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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #16 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 84.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Iowa State University came in at #17 for veteran materials engineering students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at Iowa State University
University of Connecticut came in at #18 for veteran materials engineering students this year. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at University of Connecticut
Colorado School of Mines landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the materials engineering program at Colorado School of Mines
Washington State University placed #20 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. Washington State University scores 84.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the materials engineering program at Washington State University
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Portland State University came in at #21 for veteran materials engineering students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the materials engineering program at Portland State University
Texas State University came in at #22 for veteran materials engineering students this year. Texas State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at Texas State University
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus placed #23 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full materials engineering report for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Michigan Technological University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. It scores 82.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full materials engineering report for Michigan Technological University
Not far behind, these materials engineering colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*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 materials engineering: 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
