by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study painting, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 30 programs that stand out for veteran painting students, 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).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best painting colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading painting colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in painting. The school's overall veterans score is 84.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the painting program at Rhode Island College
A rank of #2 makes Ohio University-Main Campus one of the top painting colleges for veteran students. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 84.1 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 painting report for Ohio University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong painting program will find one at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #3. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 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 painting at Virginia Commonwealth University
Oakland University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best painting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full painting report for Oakland University
Veteran students seeking a strong painting program will find one at Temple University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full painting report for Temple University
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Washington University in St Louis placed #6 among the best painting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 43.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full painting report for Washington University in St Louis
University of Houston placed #7 among the best painting colleges for veterans. It scores 75.5 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 painting at University of Houston
Texas Christian University placed #8 among the best painting colleges for veterans. Texas Christian University scores 74.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 47.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full painting report for Texas Christian University
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth placed #9 among the best painting colleges for veterans. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth scores 71.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about painting at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Boston University placed #10 among the best painting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full painting report for Boston University
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State University of New York at New Paltz placed #11 among the best painting colleges for veterans. It scores 71.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full painting report for State University of New York at New Paltz
SUNY at Purchase College landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing painting. The school's overall veterans score is 71.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the painting program at SUNY at Purchase College
University of Southern Maine landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing painting. It scores 68.9 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 painting report for University of Southern Maine
Alfred University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing painting. Alfred University scores 68.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 68.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full painting report for Alfred University
University of Hartford ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best painting colleges for veterans. University of Hartford scores 65.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 56.9, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full painting report for University of Hartford
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Arcadia University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best painting colleges for veterans. Arcadia University scores 61.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.2, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about painting at Arcadia University
Maryland Institute College of Art placed #17 among the best painting colleges for veterans. It scores 61.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.2, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. Read more about painting at Maryland Institute College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing painting. It scores 60.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about painting at Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Maine College of Art & Design landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing painting. The school's overall veterans score is 58.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 65.5, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about painting at Maine College of Art & Design
Montserrat College of Art ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best painting colleges for veterans. It scores 54.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 69.5, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score.
See the full painting report for Montserrat College of Art
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Kansas City Art Institute ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best painting colleges for veterans. It scores 54.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 62.3, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about painting at Kansas City Art Institute
University of Puget Sound landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing painting. The school's overall veterans score is 53.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 45.3, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full painting report for University of Puget Sound
Pacific Northwest College of Art placed #23 among the best painting colleges for veterans. Pacific Northwest College of Art scores 51.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 57.5, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the painting program at Pacific Northwest College of Art
Savannah College of Art and Design placed #24 among the best painting colleges for veterans. Savannah College of Art and Design scores 49.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 66.8, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. More about the painting program at Savannah College of Art and Design
Cleveland Institute of Art placed #25 among the best painting colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 49.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 56.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full painting report for Cleveland Institute of Art
These painting 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 painting: 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.
