by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 146 schools that serve veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general 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 evaluated 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 tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Here are the top-ranked sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general students better than University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this year. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 89.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general, landing the #4 spot this year. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general, landing the #5 spot this year. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for University of Georgia
5
William & Mary placed #6 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. William & Mary scores 89.2 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at William & Mary
San Diego State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at San Diego State University
California State University-Long Beach placed #8 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at California State University-Long Beach
University of Arkansas placed #9 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas scores 85.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at University of Arkansas
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #10 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
10
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 83.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for University of Nebraska at Omaha
Illinois State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at Illinois State University
California State University-Northridge landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. It scores 82.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for California State University-Northridge
University of Northern Iowa came in at #15 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for University of Northern Iowa
15
Bellevue University landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. It scores 82.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at Bellevue University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. Middle Tennessee State University scores 81.2 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at Middle Tennessee State University
Minnesota State University-Mankato ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 81.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at Minnesota State University-Mankato
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. University of New Hampshire-Main Campus scores 80.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
California State University-Sacramento placed #20 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 80.7 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at California State University-Sacramento
20
Ball State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for Ball State University
California State University-Fullerton ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. It scores 80.3 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at California State University-Fullerton
Sonoma State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. Sonoma State University scores 80.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general report for Sonoma State University
University of Wisconsin-Platteville ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general at University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Park University came in at #25 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general students this year. Park University scores 79.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general program at Park University
These sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general colleges also placed near the top 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general: 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.
