by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study brass instruments, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 11 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing brass instruments, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best brass instruments colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading brass instruments colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked University of Washington-Seattle Campus the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in brass instruments. It scores 85.4 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 brass instruments program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong brass instruments program will find one at Liberty University, which ranked #2. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about brass instruments at Liberty University
University of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best brass instruments colleges for veterans. University of Southern California scores 70.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 44.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full brass instruments report for University of Southern California
Ithaca College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best brass instruments colleges for veterans. Ithaca College scores 69.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 53.7, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full brass instruments report for Ithaca College
University of Hartford came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best brass instruments colleges for veterans. It scores 65.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.9, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the brass instruments program at University of Hartford
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Vanderbilt University came in at #6 for veteran brass instruments students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 57.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.4, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. See the full brass instruments report for Vanderbilt University
Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing brass instruments. Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music scores 51.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. See the full brass instruments report for Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music came in at #8 for veteran brass instruments students this year. It scores 46.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 49.7, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the brass instruments program at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
The Juilliard School ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best brass instruments colleges for veterans. It scores 43.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 48.0, and veteran resources 0.0. Read more about brass instruments at The Juilliard School
Manhattan School of Music came in at #10 for veteran brass instruments students this year. Manhattan School of Music scores 42.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.7, and veteran resources 33.3.
See the full brass instruments report for Manhattan School of Music
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The New England Conservatory of Music placed #11 among the best brass instruments colleges for veterans. It scores 41.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 46.3, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. Read more about brass instruments at The New England Conservatory of Music
*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 brass instruments: 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.
