by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study education, general, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 216 colleges that stand out for veteran education, general 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 reviewed 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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Explore the leading education, general colleges for veterans below:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops our 2026 ranking of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 90.4 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. See the full education, general report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing education, general, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about education, general at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong education, general program will find one at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about education, general at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
A rank of #4 makes University of Georgia one of the top education, general colleges for veteran students. It scores 89.3 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. More about the education, general program at University of Georgia
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Read more about education, general at The University of Texas at Arlington
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San Diego State University landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing education, general. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about education, general at San Diego State University
University of Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 86.4 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. See the full education, general report for University of Florida
Winona State University placed #8 among the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the education, general program at Winona State University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about education, general at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Boise State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. Boise State University scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about education, general at Boise State University
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University of Central Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education, general report for University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee placed #12 among the best education, general colleges for veterans. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full education, general report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Iowa State University came in at #13 for veteran education, general students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the education, general program at Iowa State University
Eastern Michigan University came in at #14 for veteran education, general students this year. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full education, general report for Eastern Michigan University
Miami University-Oxford came in at #15 for veteran education, general students this year. It scores 83.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full education, general report for Miami University-Oxford
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Southern New Hampshire University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the education, general program at Southern New Hampshire University
National University placed #17 among the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about education, general at National University
University of Michigan-Dearborn landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing education, general. It scores 82.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education, general report for University of Michigan-Dearborn
George Mason University came in at #19 for veteran education, general students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education, general report for George Mason University
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 82.1 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 education, general report for Southern Connecticut State University
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Clemson University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. It scores 81.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the education, general program at Clemson University
University of Nevada-Reno ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education, general at University of Nevada-Reno
University of South Carolina-Columbia placed #23 among the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the education, general program at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Grand Valley State University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing education, general. It scores 81.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education, general at Grand Valley State University
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #25 among the best education, general colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the education, general program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Not far behind, these education, general colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*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 education, general: 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.
