by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study percussion instruments, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 9 programs that serve veteran percussion instruments 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 analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Explore the best percussion instruments colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly percussion instruments colleges below:
No school served veteran percussion instruments students better than University of Southern California this year. The school's overall veterans score is 70.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 44.7, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about percussion instruments at University of Southern California
A rank of #2 makes University of Hartford one of the top percussion instruments colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 65.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 56.9, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about percussion instruments at University of Hartford
A rank of #3 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top percussion instruments colleges for veteran students. Vanderbilt University scores 57.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 42.4, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. See the full percussion instruments report for Vanderbilt University
Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best percussion instruments colleges for veterans. It scores 51.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. See the full percussion instruments report for Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Veteran students seeking a strong percussion instruments program will find one at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which ranked #5. San Francisco Conservatory of Music scores 46.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.7, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Read more about percussion instruments at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
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The Juilliard School came in at #6 for veteran percussion instruments students this year. The Juilliard School scores 43.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 48.0, and veteran resources 0.0. More about the percussion instruments program at The Juilliard School
Manhattan School of Music landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing percussion instruments. It scores 42.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.7, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the percussion instruments program at Manhattan School of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best percussion instruments colleges for veterans. The New England Conservatory of Music scores 41.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 46.3, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. More about the percussion instruments program at The New England Conservatory of Music
Los Angeles College of Music ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best percussion instruments colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 39.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. Read more about percussion instruments at Los Angeles College of Music
*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 percussion 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
