by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study protective security safety services, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 744 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing protective security safety services, 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. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly protective security safety services colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Georgia the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in protective security safety services. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong protective security safety services program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #2. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the top protective security safety services colleges for veteran students. It scores 88.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington is a great choice for veterans pursuing protective security safety services, landing the #4 spot this year. It scores 87.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 87.8 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 protective security safety services program at San Diego State University
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University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 87.7 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 protective security safety services report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #7 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the protective security safety services program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach placed #8 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the protective security safety services program at California State University-Long Beach
Winona State University came in at #9 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Winona State University
Rutgers University-Newark ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 86.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about protective security safety services at Rutgers University-Newark
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Salt Lake Community College placed #11 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 86.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at Salt Lake Community College
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Florida State College at Jacksonville scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Florida State College at Jacksonville
Citadel Military College of South Carolina placed #14 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University came in at #15 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Read more about protective security safety services at Western Michigan University
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Franklin University landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. Franklin University scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about protective security safety services at Franklin University
University of Arkansas placed #17 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas scores 85.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Arkansas
University of New Mexico-Main Campus placed #18 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 85.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for University of New Mexico-Main Campus
State University of New York at Oswego placed #19 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 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 protective security safety services program at State University of New York at Oswego
Rhode Island College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 84.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
More about the protective security safety services program at Rhode Island College
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Boise State University placed #21 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Boise State University scores 84.7 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 protective security safety services report for Boise State University
University of Central Florida came in at #22 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 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 protective security safety services report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Maryland Global Campus scores 84.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Maryland Global Campus
Iowa State University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 84.5 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. More about the protective security safety services program at Iowa State University
These protective security safety services colleges also placed near the top this year:
Explore the rest of the top 15% below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Southwestern College | 81.80 |
| 52 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 53 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 81.74 |
| 54 | Colorado State University Global | 81.67 |
| 55 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 81.64 |
| 56 | Wake Technical Community College | 81.58 |
| 57 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 58 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | 81.51 |
| 59 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 60 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 81.35 |
These protective security safety services colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 62 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 63 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 64 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 80.97 |
| 65 | Columbia Southern University | 80.94 |
| 66 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
| 67 | Oakland University | 80.84 |
| 68 | Salem State University | 80.80 |
| 69 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 70 | University of Toledo | 80.75 |
| 71 | Seminole State College of Florida | 80.71 |
| 72 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 73 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 74 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 75 | Palm Beach State College | 80.59 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 77 | ECPI University | 80.49 |
| 78 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 79 | Gateway Technical College | 80.44 |
| 80 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
*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 protective security safety services: 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.
