by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study optics/optical sciences, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 8 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing optics/optical sciences, 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 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.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly optics/optical sciences colleges below:
Leading the list is Ohio State University-Main Campus, our #1 optics/optical sciences college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the optics/optical sciences program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes University of New Mexico-Main Campus one of the top optics/optical sciences colleges for veteran students. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about optics/optical sciences at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best optics/optical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full optics/optical sciences report for University of North Carolina at Charlotte
A rank of #4 makes University of Arizona one of the top optics/optical sciences colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 78.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full optics/optical sciences report for University of Arizona
Veteran students seeking a strong optics/optical sciences program will find one at Montana State University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full optics/optical sciences report for Montana State University
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University of Rochester ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best optics/optical sciences colleges for veterans. University of Rochester scores 72.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 42.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full optics/optical sciences report for University of Rochester
Rochester Institute of Technology came in at #7 for veteran optics/optical sciences students this year. Rochester Institute of Technology scores 71.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 47.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the optics/optical sciences program at Rochester Institute of Technology
Duke University landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing optics/optical sciences. It scores 65.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 46.2, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full optics/optical sciences report for Duke University
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying optics/optical sciences: 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.
