by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 65 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, 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).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is University of Delaware, our #1 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor college for veterans. It scores 91.1 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 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #2. It scores 89.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
A rank of #5 makes Western Michigan University one of the top teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for Western Michigan University
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #6 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor 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. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at University of Arkansas
Rhode Island College placed #8 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 84.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for Rhode Island College
University of Central Florida came in at #9 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. It scores 84.7 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 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at University of Central Florida
Eastern Michigan University placed #10 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for Eastern Michigan University
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Southern New Hampshire University came in at #11 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Southern New Hampshire University
University of Northern Iowa ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 82.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for University of Northern Iowa
Georgia State University placed #13 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Georgia State University
Western Governors University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Western Governors University scores 81.5 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 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Western Governors University
CUNY Queens College landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. It scores 79.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor report for CUNY Queens College
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Molloy University came in at #16 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. It scores 78.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 71.7, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at Molloy University
Bridgewater State University landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at Bridgewater State University
University of Wisconsin-River Falls came in at #18 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Utah State University came in at #19 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. Utah State University scores 78.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Utah State University
Saint Cloud State University placed #20 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 77.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Saint Cloud State University
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The College of New Jersey landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. It scores 77.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at The College of New Jersey
California State University-San Bernardino ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. California State University-San Bernardino scores 76.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at California State University-San Bernardino
Azusa Pacific University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges for veterans. It scores 76.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 62.2, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at Azusa Pacific University
Liberty University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. 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. More about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Liberty University
University of Rhode Island came in at #25 for veteran teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students this year. It scores 76.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor at University of Rhode Island
These teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor colleges also placed near the top 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 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor: 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.
