by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study jazz/jazz studies, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 40 programs that serve veteran jazz/jazz studies students especially well, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Explore the leading jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is Ohio State University-Main Campus, our #1 jazz/jazz studies college for veterans. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Western Michigan University is a great choice for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies, landing the #3 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Ball State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Ball State University scores 80.6 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 jazz/jazz studies program at Ball State University
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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #6 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
University of Illinois Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. University of Illinois Chicago 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 jazz/jazz studies report for University of Illinois Chicago
University of California-Los Angeles came in at #8 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. It scores 79.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for University of California-Los Angeles
CUNY Queens College came in at #9 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. CUNY Queens College scores 79.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about jazz/jazz studies at CUNY Queens College
University of North Florida came in at #10 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the jazz/jazz studies program at University of North Florida
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University of Maryland-Baltimore County ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about jazz/jazz studies at University of Maryland-Baltimore County
University of Missouri-Kansas City came in at #12 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. It scores 76.8 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. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for The University of Texas at Austin
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. It scores 76.6 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 jazz/jazz studies report for Michigan State University
Temple University landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. Temple University scores 76.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the jazz/jazz studies program at Temple University
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign placed #16 among the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. It scores 75.4 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 jazz/jazz studies report for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Miami ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. University of Miami scores 74.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 45.3, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for University of Miami
Butler University landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. It scores 73.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 59.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about jazz/jazz studies at Butler University
University of North Texas landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. University of North Texas scores 73.0 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 jazz/jazz studies program at University of North Texas
University of Rochester landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. The school's overall veterans score is 72.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full jazz/jazz studies report for University of Rochester
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Wichita State University placed #21 among the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. It scores 72.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at Wichita State University
CUNY City College landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. The school's overall veterans score is 71.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for CUNY City College
University of Central Oklahoma ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best jazz/jazz studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the jazz/jazz studies program at University of Central Oklahoma
University of Oregon came in at #24 for veteran jazz/jazz studies students this year. University of Oregon scores 71.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for University of Oregon
DePaul University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing jazz/jazz studies. DePaul University scores 71.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 61.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full jazz/jazz studies report for DePaul University
These jazz/jazz studies 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 jazz/jazz studies: 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
