by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study music history, literature, and theory, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 22 programs that stand out for veteran music history, literature, and theory students, 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. 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.
Explore the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans below:
No school served veteran music history, literature, and theory students better than Ohio State University-Main Campus this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full music history, literature, and theory report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Veteran students seeking a strong music history, literature, and theory program will find one at University of Washington-Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
A rank of #4 makes University of Kentucky one of the top music history, literature, and theory colleges for veteran students. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 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. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at University of Kentucky
A rank of #5 makes Ohio University-Main Campus one of the top music history, literature, and theory colleges for veteran students. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 84.1 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 music history, literature, and theory program at Ohio University-Main Campus
5
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #6 for veteran music history, literature, and theory students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music history, literature, and theory at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
SUNY College at Potsdam landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing music history, literature, and theory. It scores 78.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at SUNY College at Potsdam
University of Missouri-Kansas City ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at University of Missouri-Kansas City
Liberty University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music history, literature, and theory at Liberty University
Temple University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing music history, literature, and theory. It scores 76.4 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 music history, literature, and theory report for Temple University
10
West Virginia University placed #11 among the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. West Virginia University scores 75.9 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 music history, literature, and theory report for West Virginia University
Johns Hopkins University placed #12 among the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. Johns Hopkins University scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 42.8, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about music history, literature, and theory at Johns Hopkins University
Syracuse University placed #13 among the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 43.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full music history, literature, and theory report for Syracuse University
Southern Methodist University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 42.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at Southern Methodist University
University of Rochester placed #15 among the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. It scores 72.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 42.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full music history, literature, and theory report for University of Rochester
15
Rider University came in at #16 for veteran music history, literature, and theory students this year. Rider University scores 71.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 69.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full music history, literature, and theory report for Rider University
Baldwin Wallace University placed #17 among the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. Baldwin Wallace University scores 69.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 71.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about music history, literature, and theory at Baldwin Wallace University
Kent State University at Kent landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing music history, literature, and theory. It scores 69.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full music history, literature, and theory report for Kent State University at Kent
Bob Jones University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing music history, literature, and theory. Bob Jones University scores 69.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about music history, literature, and theory at Bob Jones University
University of Hartford ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 65.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.9, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about music history, literature, and theory at University of Hartford
20
The New School ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The New School scores 65.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 48.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the music history, literature, and theory program at The New School
Skidmore College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best music history, literature, and theory colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 47.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.7, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. See the full music history, literature, and theory report for Skidmore College
*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 music history, literature, and theory: 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.
