by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study urban education and leadership, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 12 colleges that stand out for veteran urban education and leadership students, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on 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).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best urban education and leadership colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked urban education and leadership colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran urban education and leadership students better than University of Delaware this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full urban education and leadership report for University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong urban education and leadership program will find one at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, which ranked #2. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the urban education and leadership program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Veteran students seeking a strong urban education and leadership program will find one at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which ranked #3. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about urban education and leadership at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
A rank of #4 makes University of North Carolina at Charlotte one of the top urban education and leadership colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban education and leadership program at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Veteran students seeking a strong urban education and leadership program will find one at University of Illinois Chicago, which ranked #5. University of Illinois Chicago scores 80.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the urban education and leadership program at University of Illinois Chicago
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The College of New Jersey placed #6 among the best urban education and leadership colleges for veterans. The College of New Jersey scores 77.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full urban education and leadership report for The College of New Jersey
Liberty University landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing urban education and leadership. It scores 76.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full urban education and leadership report for Liberty University
Temple University placed #8 among the best urban education and leadership colleges for veterans. It scores 76.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban education and leadership at Temple University
Providence College came in at #9 for veteran urban education and leadership students this year. It scores 72.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 44.6, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full urban education and leadership report for Providence College
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus came in at #10 for veteran urban education and leadership students this year. It scores 71.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full urban education and leadership report for University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
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Northeastern Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best urban education and leadership colleges for veterans. Northeastern Illinois University scores 69.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban education and leadership program at Northeastern Illinois University
Metropolitan State University came in at #12 for veteran urban education and leadership students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 56.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. See the full urban education and leadership report for Metropolitan State University
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying urban education and leadership: 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
