by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study journalism, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 162 schools that stand out for veteran journalism 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. So you can compare your options, 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 journalism colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Nebraska-Lincoln the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in journalism. It scores 91.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full journalism report for University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. It scores 89.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about journalism at Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University of Georgia one of the top journalism colleges for veteran students. 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 journalism report for University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong journalism program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #4. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the journalism program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a great choice for veterans pursuing journalism, landing the #5 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scores 88.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the journalism program at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
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San Diego State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the journalism program at San Diego State University
Stony Brook University came in at #7 for veteran journalism students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the journalism program at Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing journalism. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about journalism at California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida came in at #9 for veteran journalism students this year. It scores 86.4 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 journalism at University of Florida
Rutgers University-Newark placed #10 among the best journalism colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-Newark scores 86.1 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 journalism program at Rutgers University-Newark
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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 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 100.0. More about the journalism program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the journalism program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full journalism report for University of Arkansas
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing journalism. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full journalism report for University of Maryland-College Park
University of New Mexico-Main Campus came in at #15 for veteran journalism students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about journalism at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
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State University of New York at Oswego ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about journalism at State University of New York at Oswego
University of Kentucky ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about journalism at University of Kentucky
Texas Tech University placed #18 among the best journalism colleges for veterans. Texas Tech University scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about journalism at Texas Tech University
University of Central Florida came in at #19 for veteran journalism students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full journalism report for University of Central Florida
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #20 among the best journalism colleges for veterans. It scores 84.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full journalism report for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
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Iowa State University came in at #21 for veteran journalism students this year. Iowa State University scores 84.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full journalism report for Iowa State University
University of Connecticut ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the journalism program at University of Connecticut
Ohio University-Main Campus came in at #23 for veteran journalism students this year. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 84.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full journalism report for Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Kansas came in at #24 for veteran journalism students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about journalism at University of Kansas
Washington State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best journalism colleges for veterans. It scores 84.0 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 journalism program at Washington State University
These journalism colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying journalism: 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
