Abstract This study was designed to explore the extent to which perceived alienation, level of post-traumatic stress and co-morbid traumatic brain injury, and level of grit influence veteran students’ (n = 60) reported motivation toward higher education. Additionally, it also examined traditional (n = 57) and non-traditional (n = 36) college students’ attitudes toward veteran student peers. For the traditional student sample, results revealed positive, significant correlations between academic amotivation and perceived alienation, post-traumatic stress, and TBI symptoms. Non-traditional students reported positive, significant relationships between amotivation and TBI symptoms. Veteran students reported positive, significant relationships between perceived alienation and post-traumatic stress, and TBI symptoms. Level of grit was found to be significantly lower in traditional students when compared to non-traditional and veteran students. Specific to the veteran student sample, symptoms of TBI were the greatest predictor of amotivation.