by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study speech communication and rhetoric, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 343 programs that stand out for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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 evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly speech communication and rhetoric colleges below:
No school served veteran speech communication and rhetoric students better than University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year. It scores 91.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware is a great choice for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Veteran students seeking a strong speech communication and rhetoric program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #4. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric, landing the #5 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at James Madison University
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University of Georgia landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for University of Georgia
University of South Florida came in at #7 for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students this year. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University placed #9 among the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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San Diego State University landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #13 among the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 87.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach came in at #14 for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students this year. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the speech communication and rhetoric program at California State University-Long Beach
Winona State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 86.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at Winona State University
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Salt Lake Community College came in at #16 for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students this year. It scores 86.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at Salt Lake Community College
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the speech communication and rhetoric program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the speech communication and rhetoric program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas placed #20 among the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 85.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at University of Arkansas
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University of Maryland-College Park came in at #21 for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students this year. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the speech communication and rhetoric program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing speech communication and rhetoric. It scores 85.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
State University of New York at Oswego came in at #23 for veteran speech communication and rhetoric students this year. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at State University of New York at Oswego
Texas Tech University placed #24 among the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about speech communication and rhetoric at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication and rhetoric colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full speech communication and rhetoric report for University of Kentucky
Not far behind, these speech communication and rhetoric colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
To learn more, click any college name below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
| 52 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
These speech communication and rhetoric colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 54 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 55 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 56 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 57 | Christopher Newport University | 80.94 |
| 58 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 59 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
| 60 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 61 | University of Toledo | 80.75 |
| 62 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 63 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 64 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 65 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 66 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 67 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 69 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying speech communication and rhetoric: 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.
