Military Times has ranked Quinnipiac No. 1 in Connecticut; No. 3 in the Northeast and the Islands; No. 4 among private, not-for-profit universities and No. 26 nationally in its 2026 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings.

"I continue to be deeply impressed by our student veterans, who remain fiercely focused on their academic mission at Quinnipiac,” said Jason Burke, assistant vice president of student experience and executive director of veteran and military affairs. “The camaraderie within our veteran cadre leads to remarkable retention and graduation rates. Supported by an engaged network of faculty, staff and outstanding alumni, our community works together to ensure Quinnipiac is a place where student veterans can truly flourish."

This year’s list includes 370 institutions, marking the largest field in the program’s history and an increase from 357 in 2025. The growth underscores the expanding network of colleges prioritizing veteran success through targeted programs, financial support and student-veteran communities.

“The military-connected student today looks different than many people imagine,” said Jon Simkins, editor-in-chief of Military Times. “It’s a veteran starting a second career, a Guard member balancing drill weekends with classes, a spouse finishing a degree between moves. The schools on this year’s list understand that, and they’re building support around the real lives of the people they serve. That’s exactly what we want our readers to know when they’re choosing where to invest their education benefits.”

For more than a decade, Military Times has surveyed colleges and universities nationwide to evaluate their veteran-focused programs. Institutions are evaluated on university culture, student support services, academic policies, costs and financial assistance and military-connected student success rates.