by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 24 schools that stand out for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based 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 evaluated 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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Explore the leading therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is East Carolina University, our #1 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for East Carolina University
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a great choice for veterans pursuing therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Veteran students seeking a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Eastern Michigan University, which ranked #3. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Eastern Michigan University
Texas State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Texas State University
Veteran students seeking a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 81.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Grand Valley State University
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University of Toledo came in at #6 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at University of Toledo
University of Southern Mississippi placed #7 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for University of Southern Mississippi
Central Michigan University came in at #8 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. It scores 78.6 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 66.7. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at Central Michigan University
Winston-Salem State University placed #9 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. Winston-Salem State University scores 77.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at Winston-Salem State University
Kean University placed #10 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at Kean University
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Temple University landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Temple University scores 76.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at Temple University
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania scores 76.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
University of Utah came in at #13 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at University of Utah
Lindenwood University placed #14 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Lindenwood University
University of North Carolina Wilmington came in at #15 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. It scores 73.9 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 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at University of North Carolina Wilmington
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York College of Pennsylvania ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at York College of Pennsylvania
Western Carolina University placed #17 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Western Carolina University
Aurora University came in at #18 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 71.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 96.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Aurora University
CUNY LaGuardia Community College came in at #19 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 69.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at CUNY LaGuardia Community College
CUNY Lehman College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. CUNY Lehman College scores 67.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at CUNY Lehman College
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Southern University and A & M College came in at #21 for veteran therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students this year. It scores 67.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at Southern University and A & M College
CUNY Bronx Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. It scores 64.5 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. Read more about therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy at CUNY Bronx Community College
Catawba College placed #23 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy colleges for veterans. Catawba College scores 58.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 81.2, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Catawba College
Brigham Young University-Idaho landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Brigham Young University-Idaho scores 56.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy report for Brigham Young University-Idaho
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy: 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.
