by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study parks recreation fitness, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 516 colleges that serve veteran parks recreation fitness students especially well, 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. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly parks recreation fitness colleges below:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Delaware scores 91.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong parks recreation fitness program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. 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. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top parks recreation fitness colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. 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. More about the parks recreation fitness program at James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 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 parks recreation fitness program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
5
University of Georgia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation 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. Read more about parks recreation fitness at University of Georgia
William & Mary ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. William & Mary scores 89.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at William & Mary
Rutgers University-New Brunswick came in at #8 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full parks recreation fitness report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University placed #9 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the parks recreation fitness program at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #10 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full parks recreation fitness report for The University of Texas at Arlington
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San Diego State University placed #11 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the parks recreation fitness program at San Diego State University
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 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 parks recreation fitness at University of Virginia-Main Campus
California State University-Long Beach ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Florida
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Winona State University landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks recreation fitness program at Winona State University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks recreation fitness program at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University placed #18 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the parks recreation fitness program at Western Michigan University
University of Arkansas placed #19 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas scores 85.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Arkansas
University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Alabama in Huntsville scores 85.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
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University of Maryland-College Park landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 85.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse placed #22 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Texas Tech University came in at #23 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks recreation fitness at Texas Tech University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee placed #24 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks recreation fitness program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
These parks recreation fitness colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more, click any college name below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 52 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 53 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 54 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 55 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 56 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 57 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 58 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 59 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 60 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
These parks recreation fitness colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Towson University | 80.91 |
| 62 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 63 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 64 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 65 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 66 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 67 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 68 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 69 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| 70 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 71 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 72 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 73 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 80.34 |
| 74 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 75 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
| 77 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 78 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 79 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 80 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
*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 parks recreation 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
