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, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 551 schools that stand out for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness 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. 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.
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Here are the top-ranked sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. 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 program at University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. 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. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness at Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes James Madison University one of the top sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness report for James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 89.6 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
5
University of Georgia placed #6 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Georgia
William & Mary ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at William & Mary
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 88.8 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 88.2 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 report for East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #10 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 87.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness at The University of Texas at Arlington
10
San Diego State University came in at #11 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at San Diego State University
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness at University of Virginia-Main Campus
California State University-Long Beach placed #14 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 86.7 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness at University of Florida
15
Winona State University placed #16 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. Winona State University scores 86.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness at Winona State University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina placed #17 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness report for Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University came in at #18 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 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 program at Western Michigan University
University of Arkansas ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 85.3 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Arkansas
University of Alabama in Huntsville came in at #20 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness students this year. University of Alabama in Huntsville scores 85.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
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University of Maryland-College Park placed #21 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges for veterans. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse came in at #22 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness students this year. It scores 85.0 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 report for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Texas Tech University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness 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, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at Texas Tech University
Boise State University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at Boise State University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Not far behind, these sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Southern Connecticut State University | 82.10 |
| 52 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 53 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 54 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 55 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 56 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 57 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 58 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 59 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 60 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
These sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
| 62 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 63 | Towson University | 80.91 |
| 64 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 65 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 66 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 67 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 68 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 69 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 70 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 71 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| 72 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 73 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 74 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 75 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 77 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
| 78 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 79 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 80 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
*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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness: 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.
