by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study woodwind instruments, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 10 schools that stand out for veteran woodwind instruments students, 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. 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.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly woodwind instruments colleges below:
Roosevelt University tops our 2026 ranking of the best woodwind instruments colleges for veterans. Roosevelt University scores 70.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about woodwind instruments at Roosevelt University
A rank of #2 makes University of Southern California one of the top woodwind instruments colleges for veteran students. University of Southern California scores 70.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 44.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the woodwind instruments program at University of Southern California
Ithaca College is a great choice for veterans pursuing woodwind instruments, landing the #3 spot this year. It scores 69.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 53.7, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full woodwind instruments report for Ithaca College
University of Hartford came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best woodwind instruments colleges for veterans. University of Hartford scores 65.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 56.9, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full woodwind instruments report for University of Hartford
Veteran students seeking a strong woodwind instruments program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 57.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.4, and veteran resources 0.0.
See the full woodwind instruments report for Vanderbilt University
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Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best woodwind instruments colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 51.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. See the full woodwind instruments report for Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best woodwind instruments colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 46.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.7, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the woodwind instruments program at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
The Juilliard School came in at #8 for veteran woodwind instruments students this year. It scores 43.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 48.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. Read more about woodwind instruments at The Juilliard School
Manhattan School of Music came in at #9 for veteran woodwind instruments students this year. It scores 42.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 49.7, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about woodwind instruments at Manhattan School of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music placed #10 among the best woodwind instruments colleges for veterans. The New England Conservatory of Music scores 41.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 46.3, and veteran resources 0.0. Read more about woodwind instruments at The New England Conservatory of Music
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying woodwind 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.
