by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study astronomy and astrophysics, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 25 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing astronomy and astrophysics, 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 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.
Explore the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans:
Our analysis ranked Ohio State University-Main Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 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. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics 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, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
A rank of #3 makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick one of the top astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
A rank of #4 makes University of Virginia-Main Campus one of the top astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veteran students. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 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 astronomy and astrophysics program at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong astronomy and astrophysics program will find one at University of Florida, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 86.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at University of Florida
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of California-Santa Cruz placed #7 among the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. University of California-Santa Cruz scores 85.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at University of California-Santa Cruz
University of Maryland-College Park placed #8 among the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing astronomy and astrophysics. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of California-Los Angeles placed #10 among the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. University of California-Los Angeles scores 79.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at University of California-Los Angeles
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University of Wisconsin-Madison came in at #11 for veteran astronomy and astrophysics students this year. It scores 78.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Colorado Boulder landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing astronomy and astrophysics. The school's overall veterans score is 78.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for University of Colorado Boulder
University of Arizona placed #13 among the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. It scores 78.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at University of Arizona
University of Massachusetts-Amherst came in at #14 for veteran astronomy and astrophysics students this year. It scores 77.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Indiana University-Bloomington ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for Indiana University-Bloomington
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The University of Texas at Austin came in at #16 for veteran astronomy and astrophysics students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for The University of Texas at Austin
Michigan State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. It scores 76.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at Michigan State University
Cornell University placed #18 among the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. Cornell University scores 75.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at Cornell University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #19 for veteran astronomy and astrophysics students this year. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores 75.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. It scores 74.3 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 astronomy and astrophysics at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
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College of Charleston landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing astronomy and astrophysics. It scores 74.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about astronomy and astrophysics at College of Charleston
University of California-Berkeley ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. It scores 73.4 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 astronomy and astrophysics program at University of California-Berkeley
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy and astrophysics colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 64.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Boston University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing astronomy and astrophysics. It scores 71.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the astronomy and astrophysics program at Boston University
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #25 for veteran astronomy and astrophysics students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 60.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 39.3, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full astronomy and astrophysics report for Columbia University in the City of New York
*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 astronomy and 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
