by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study astrophysics, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 10 colleges that serve veteran astrophysics 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 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.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked astrophysics colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran astrophysics students better than Rutgers University-New Brunswick this year. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full astrophysics report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Veteran students seeking a strong astrophysics program will find one at University of California-Santa Cruz, which ranked #2. The school's overall veterans score is 85.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about astrophysics at University of California-Santa Cruz
A rank of #3 makes University of Minnesota-Twin Cities one of the top astrophysics colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full astrophysics report for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of California-Los Angeles is a great choice for veterans pursuing astrophysics, landing the #4 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the astrophysics program at University of California-Los Angeles
Veteran students seeking a strong astrophysics program will find one at University of Wisconsin-Madison, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 78.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about astrophysics at University of Wisconsin-Madison
5
University of Colorado Boulder ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best astrophysics colleges for veterans. University of Colorado Boulder scores 78.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the astrophysics program at University of Colorado Boulder
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing astrophysics. It scores 76.6 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. See the full astrophysics report for Michigan State University
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus came in at #8 for veteran astrophysics students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about astrophysics at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
University of California-Berkeley came in at #9 for veteran astrophysics students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 73.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about astrophysics at University of California-Berkeley
Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best astrophysics colleges for veterans. It scores 60.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 39.3, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full astrophysics report for Columbia University in the City of New York
*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 astrophysics: 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.
