by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study criminal justice/police science, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 150 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing criminal justice/police science, 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 tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Explore the leading criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked Hilbert College the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in criminal justice/police science. Hilbert College scores 82.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 84.3, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Hilbert College
A rank of #2 makes Florida State University one of the top criminal justice/police science colleges for veteran students. It scores 82.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Florida State University
George Mason University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full criminal justice/police science report for George Mason University
A rank of #4 makes Rowan University one of the top criminal justice/police science colleges for veteran students. It scores 82.1 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 criminal justice/police science program at Rowan University
Houston Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about criminal justice/police science at Houston Community College
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Minnesota State University-Mankato came in at #6 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. Minnesota State University-Mankato scores 81.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about criminal justice/police science at Minnesota State University-Mankato
Columbia Southern University landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice/police science. Columbia Southern University scores 80.9 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 criminal justice/police science program at Columbia Southern University
Eastern Kentucky University placed #8 among the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice/police science at Eastern Kentucky University
Austin Community College District came in at #9 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Austin Community College District
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #10 among the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. It scores 79.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about criminal justice/police science at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
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Fitchburg State University placed #11 among the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. Fitchburg State University scores 79.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full criminal justice/police science report for Fitchburg State University
Honolulu Community College came in at #12 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Honolulu Community College
South Texas College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. South Texas College scores 78.6 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 criminal justice/police science at South Texas College
Community College of Baltimore County placed #14 among the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. Community College of Baltimore County scores 78.5 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. Read more about criminal justice/police science at Community College of Baltimore County
Anne Arundel Community College came in at #15 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full criminal justice/police science report for Anne Arundel Community College
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University of Baltimore came in at #16 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice/police science at University of Baltimore
Ferris State University placed #17 among the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. Ferris State University scores 77.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full criminal justice/police science report for Ferris State University
Eastern Illinois University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Eastern Illinois University
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice/police science. The school's overall veterans score is 77.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the criminal justice/police science program at Fox Valley Technical College
Normandale Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. Normandale Community College scores 76.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the criminal justice/police science program at Normandale Community College
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William Rainey Harper College landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice/police science. The school's overall veterans score is 76.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full criminal justice/police science report for William Rainey Harper College
Community College of Rhode Island landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice/police science. The school's overall veterans score is 75.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full criminal justice/police science report for Community College of Rhode Island
Grand Canyon University came in at #23 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full criminal justice/police science report for Grand Canyon University
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice/police science colleges for veterans. Waukesha County Technical College scores 75.6 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 criminal justice/police science report for Waukesha County Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #25 for veteran criminal justice/police science students this year. It scores 75.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice/police science at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Not far behind, these criminal justice/police science colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*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 criminal justice/police science: 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.
