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. We have ranked 64 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing materials engineering, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Explore the leading materials engineering colleges for veterans below:
Ohio State University-Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the materials engineering program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a great choice for veterans pursuing materials engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the materials engineering program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing materials engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at 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 is a great choice for veterans pursuing materials engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 87.5 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.
See the full materials engineering report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
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Stony Brook University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. Stony Brook University scores 87.1 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 materials engineering report for Stony Brook University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology came in at #7 for veteran materials engineering students this year. It scores 86.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Florida came in at #8 for veteran materials engineering students this year. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at University of Florida
Winona State University came in at #9 for veteran materials engineering students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about materials engineering at Winona State University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #10 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the materials engineering program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full materials engineering report for University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Maryland-College Park placed #12 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Kentucky came in at #13 for veteran materials engineering students this year. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the materials engineering program at University of Kentucky
Boise State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full materials engineering report for Boise State University
University of Central Florida ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. 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.
Read more about materials engineering at University of Central Florida
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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the materials engineering program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Iowa State University landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. It scores 84.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full materials engineering report for Iowa State University
University of Connecticut came in at #18 for veteran materials engineering students this year. University of Connecticut scores 84.3 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 materials engineering at University of Connecticut
Colorado School of Mines ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. Colorado School of Mines scores 84.0 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. Read more about materials engineering at Colorado School of Mines
Washington State University landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing materials engineering. Washington State University scores 84.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about materials engineering at Washington State University
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Portland State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 83.6 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. More about the materials engineering program at Portland State University
Texas State University placed #22 among the best materials engineering colleges for veterans. Texas State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about materials engineering at Texas State University
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus came in at #23 for veteran materials engineering students this year. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. 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. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans 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, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full materials engineering report for Michigan Technological University
These materials engineering colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
