“I’m extremely proud of our student veterans for their dedication to their degree paths,” said Jason Burke, Quinnipiac’s assistant vice president of student experience and executive director of veteran and military affairs. “Along with our wonderful support staff and faculty, our warrior-scholars are a huge reason for our high Best for Vets ranking. There’s a sense of belonging and community at QU that resonates with our veterans.”

The No. 4 national ranking is up from No. 10 last year. Quinnipiac also ranked fourth in the traditional and general education categories.

This year’s list includes 357 institutions, marking the largest field in the program’s history and a substantial increase from 304 in 2024. The growth underscores the expanding network of colleges prioritizing veteran success through targeted programs, financial support and student-veteran communities.

“For 15 years, Best for Vets has helped transitioning service members find schools that not only welcome veterans but actively invest in their success,” said Jon Simkins, executive editor of Military Times and Sightline Media Group. “The record-breaking participation this year shows that higher education leaders are listening and working to create environments where veterans can thrive academically and personally.”

Each year, Military Times surveys colleges and universities nationwide to evaluate their veteran-focused programs. Institutions are evaluated on academic quality, student support services, affordability and outcomes for veterans, including graduation and retention rates.