by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study elementary education and teaching, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 524 colleges that serve veteran elementary education and teaching students especially well, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 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.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly elementary education and teaching colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Nebraska-Lincoln the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in elementary education and teaching. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware is a great choice for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 91.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Delaware
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the elementary education and teaching program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a great choice for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching, landing the #4 spot this year. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia is a great choice for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching, landing the #5 spot this year. University of Georgia scores 89.3 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 elementary education and teaching report for University of Georgia
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University of South Florida landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. University of South Florida scores 89.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full elementary education and teaching report for University of South Florida
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. It scores 88.5 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. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
East Carolina University placed #8 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. It scores 88.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the elementary education and teaching program at East Carolina University
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #9 for veteran elementary education and teaching students this year. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
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University of Florida placed #11 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the elementary education and teaching program at University of Florida
Winona State University landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the elementary education and teaching program at Winona State University
Western Michigan University landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the elementary education and teaching program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the elementary education and teaching program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas came in at #15 for veteran elementary education and teaching students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Arkansas
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University of Alabama in Huntsville landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. It scores 85.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full elementary education and teaching report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing elementary education and teaching. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full elementary education and teaching report for University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse placed #18 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
University of New Mexico-Main Campus came in at #19 for veteran elementary education and teaching students this year. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about elementary education and teaching at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
State University of New York at Oswego placed #20 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. 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, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about elementary education and teaching at State University of New York at Oswego
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University of Kentucky placed #21 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full elementary education and teaching report for University of Kentucky
Boise State University came in at #22 for veteran elementary education and teaching students this year. Boise State University scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full elementary education and teaching report for Boise State University
University of Central Florida came in at #23 for veteran elementary education and teaching students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the elementary education and teaching program at University of Central Florida
Iowa State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full elementary education and teaching report for Iowa State University
University of Connecticut placed #25 among the best elementary education and teaching colleges for veterans. It scores 84.3 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 elementary education and teaching program at University of Connecticut
These elementary education and teaching colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 52 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 53 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 54 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 80.97 |
| 55 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 56 | Towson University | 80.91 |
| 57 | Oakland University | 80.84 |
| 58 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 60 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
These elementary education and teaching colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 62 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 63 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 80.34 |
| 64 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 65 | Saint Joseph’s University - Philadelphia | 80.18 |
| 66 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 67 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 80.12 |
| 68 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 69 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 80.07 |
| 70 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
| 71 | University of Missouri-Columbia | 79.87 |
| 72 | Carroll University | 79.73 |
| 73 | The University of Montana | 79.58 |
| 74 | Park University | 79.58 |
| 75 | University of Southern Mississippi | 79.54 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Winthrop University | 79.45 |
| 77 | American University | 79.35 |
| 78 | CUNY Queens College | 79.22 |
| 79 | Weber State University | 79.18 |
| 80 | Fitchburg State University | 79.04 |
*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 elementary education and teaching: 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.
