by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study marine sciences, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 10 schools that stand out for veteran marine sciences students, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best marine sciences colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly marine sciences colleges below:
Stony Brook University tops our 2026 ranking of the best marine sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full marine sciences report for Stony Brook University
University of Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best marine sciences 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, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the marine sciences program at University of Florida
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best marine sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 84.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full marine sciences report for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
A rank of #4 makes Texas A&M University-College Station one of the top marine sciences colleges for veteran students. It scores 82.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about marine sciences at Texas A&M University-College Station
University of California-Davis is a great choice for veterans pursuing marine sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. University of California-Davis scores 74.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the marine sciences program at University of California-Davis
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Western Washington University came in at #6 for veteran marine sciences students this year. It scores 71.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full marine sciences report for Western Washington University
Florida Atlantic University came in at #7 for veteran marine sciences students this year. It scores 68.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about marine sciences at Florida Atlantic University
California State University-Monterey Bay landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing marine sciences. California State University-Monterey Bay scores 68.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the marine sciences program at California State University-Monterey Bay
University of Maine placed #9 among the best marine sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 61.4 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. More about the marine sciences program at University of Maine
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #10 for veteran marine sciences students this year. It scores 59.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 82.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about marine sciences at Hawaii Pacific University
*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 marine sciences: 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
