by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study visual and performing arts, general, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 91 colleges that serve veteran visual and performing arts, general students especially well, 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? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly visual and performing arts, general colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Nebraska-Lincoln the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in visual and performing arts, general. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 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 visual and performing arts, general at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a great choice for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 88.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about visual and performing arts, general at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Florida came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about visual and performing arts, general at University of Florida
Texas Tech University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 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. Read more about visual and performing arts, general at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 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 100.0.
More about the visual and performing arts, general program at University of Kentucky
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University of Central Florida placed #6 among the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 84.7 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 visual and performing arts, general at University of Central Florida
Iowa State University came in at #7 for veteran visual and performing arts, general students this year. Iowa State University scores 84.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full visual and performing arts, general report for Iowa State University
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the visual and performing arts, general program at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Mary Washington ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 82.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about visual and performing arts, general at University of Mary Washington
George Mason University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the visual and performing arts, general program at George Mason University
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University of Colorado Colorado Springs landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. University of Colorado Colorado Springs scores 81.0 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 visual and performing arts, general report for University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Christopher Newport University landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the visual and performing arts, general program at Christopher Newport University
The University of Texas at Dallas placed #13 among the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full visual and performing arts, general report for The University of Texas at Dallas
Mississippi State University placed #14 among the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. Mississippi State University scores 80.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the visual and performing arts, general program at Mississippi State University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full visual and performing arts, general report for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 80.3 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 visual and performing arts, general at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Pima Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. Pima Community College scores 80.2 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. See the full visual and performing arts, general report for Pima Community College
University of Illinois Chicago came in at #18 for veteran visual and performing arts, general students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the visual and performing arts, general program at University of Illinois Chicago
Austin Community College District landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. It scores 79.9 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. See the full visual and performing arts, general report for Austin Community College District
University of Missouri-Columbia ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about visual and performing arts, general at University of Missouri-Columbia
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Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. It scores 79.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the visual and performing arts, general program at Ramapo College of New Jersey
University of Southern Mississippi landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing visual and performing arts, general. University of Southern Mississippi scores 79.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full visual and performing arts, general report for University of Southern Mississippi
Albany State University came in at #23 for veteran visual and performing arts, general students this year. Albany State University scores 78.9 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 visual and performing arts, general program at Albany State University
Longwood University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. Longwood University scores 78.8 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 visual and performing arts, general at Longwood University
Central Michigan University placed #25 among the best visual and performing arts, general colleges for veterans. Central Michigan University scores 78.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about visual and performing arts, general at Central Michigan University
Not far behind, these visual and performing arts, general colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying visual and performing arts, general: 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
