In late October 2019, the Military Times released their Best Colleges for Veterans 2020 report. Institutions of higher learning from trade to four-year schools were asked to complete a 150-question survey centered around their active duty service members and veteran students. The survey responses, in addition to data from three other sources, were compiled to come up with their list.
The Methodology
Of the 134 four-year schools making their list – down from the 137 on last year’s list – the ones in the chart below all share the same criteria regarding veteran students:
- Accept the Post 9/11 GI Bill – Tuition and applicable fees at the in-state resident rate can be paid up to the full amount charged at public schools
- Accept tuition assistance for active duty members, meaning tuition is at or below TA per credit limit set by each military branch
- Have a veteran’s center – either a center, office or virtual application for online students
- Are regionally accredited – am accreditation more widely accepted than national ones
- Have GI Bill gap coverage – schools have agreed to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs by accepting the Post 9/11 GI Bill and/or offering the Yellow Ribbon Program
The list was further filtered down to just the top 10 schools with military/veteran retention rates over 65% and graduation rates over 80%. Rates this high are good indicators the school is veteran-friendly and should be on your list of schools to consider after getting out.
Top Ten 4-Year Schools for veterans
| School | Location | Tuition
/Fees |
Accreditation | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Notes |
| University of Texas – Arlington | Arlington, TX
|
$11,040 | SACS | 69% | 85% | Heavy in Engineering, Architecture Planning and Public Affairs |
| Syracuse University* | Syracuse, NY | $53,849 | MSCHE | 88% | 83% | Offers Over 200 Degree Majors and Over 100 Degree Minors |
| Quinnipiac University* | Hamden, CT | $48,560 | NECHE | 90% | 89% | Has Courses in 9 Different Career Areas Including Law and Medicine |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | $6,360 | SACS | 68% | 90% | Offers Degree in Cybersecurity |
| Washburn University | Topeka,
KS |
$9,470 | HLC | 92% | 95% | 55 Degree Majors Offered |
| Manhattan College* | Riverdale,
NY |
$42,364 | MSCHE | 71% | 82% | Offers 15 STEM Courses In Addition to Courses In 8 Other Fields |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City,
NC |
$13,213. 38 | SACS | 89% | 87% | Offers 28 Degree Programs in 9 Different Departments |
| North Carolina State University | Raleigh,
NC |
$9,100 | SACS | 93% | 91% | Offers 89 Majors with Large STEM Presence |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksberg,
VA |
$13,691 | SACS | 89% | 86% | 150 Majors Offered to First-Year Students |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles,
CA |
$13,239 | WASC | 94% | 85% | Over 125 Majors In 10 Different “Schools” |
Legend:
- * – Private School – Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition and fees is capped at $24,476.79 per year
- Regional Accreditation
- HLC – The Higher Learning Commission (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
- SACS – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- MSCHE – Middle States Commission on Higher Learning
- NECHE – New England Commission of Higher Learning
- WASC – Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The schools on this list not only provide a variety of locations, but also a large selection of degree majors. Any of them would be a good choice for veterans, as evidenced by the facts in this chart.
