by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study aviation/airway management and operations, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 27 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking 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 analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly aviation/airway management and operations colleges below:
Our analysis ranked Ohio State University-Main Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management and operations. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
Florida State College at Jacksonville is a great choice for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 85.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Florida State College at Jacksonville
A rank of #3 makes Eastern Michigan University one of the top aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veteran students. It scores 84.3 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 100.0. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Eastern Michigan University
Veteran students seeking a strong aviation/airway management and operations program will find one at Ohio University-Main Campus, which ranked #4. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 84.1 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 aviation/airway management and operations report for Ohio University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong aviation/airway management and operations program will find one at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 81.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Middle Tennessee State University
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Louisiana Tech University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. It scores 78.8 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 aviation/airway management and operations program at Louisiana Tech University
Utah State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. It scores 78.0 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. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Utah State University
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology came in at #8 for veteran aviation/airway management and operations students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 94.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
University of North Dakota placed #9 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. University of North Dakota scores 77.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at University of North Dakota
Central Washington University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. The school's overall veterans score is 77.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Central Washington University
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Liberty University placed #11 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. Liberty University scores 76.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Liberty University
University of Central Missouri placed #12 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. University of Central Missouri scores 75.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at University of Central Missouri
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Florida Institute of Technology landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. The school's overall veterans score is 74.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 61.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Florida Institute of Technology
Auburn University landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. The school's overall veterans score is 71.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Auburn University
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Jacksonville University placed #16 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. It scores 70.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 58.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Jacksonville University
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus scores 69.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Farmingdale State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. It scores 68.9 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. See the full aviation/airway management and operations report for Farmingdale State College
Indiana State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing aviation/airway management and operations. Indiana State University scores 68.2 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 aviation/airway management and operations program at Indiana State University
University of Dubuque placed #20 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. It scores 68.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 67.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at University of Dubuque
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Lewis University placed #21 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. Lewis University scores 66.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 71.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at Lewis University
Polk State College came in at #22 for veteran aviation/airway management and operations students this year. Polk State College scores 66.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Polk State College
Delta State University placed #23 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. Delta State University scores 63.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the aviation/airway management and operations program at Delta State University
CUNY York College placed #24 among the best aviation/airway management and operations colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 61.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at CUNY York College
Rocky Mountain College came in at #25 for veteran aviation/airway management and operations students this year. Rocky Mountain College scores 59.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 81.6, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about aviation/airway management and operations at Rocky Mountain College
These aviation/airway management and operations colleges also placed near the top 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 aviation/airway management and operations: 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.
