by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study critical care nursing, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 19 schools that stand out for veteran critical care nursing 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).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Here are the top-ranked critical care nursing colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Winona State University, our #1 critical care nursing college for veterans. Winona State University scores 86.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full critical care nursing report for Winona State University
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a great choice for veterans pursuing critical care nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about critical care nursing at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Grand Canyon University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. Grand Canyon University scores 75.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full critical care nursing report for Grand Canyon University
A rank of #4 makes Maryville University of Saint Louis one of the top critical care nursing colleges for veteran students. Maryville University of Saint Louis scores 75.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 99.8, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full critical care nursing report for Maryville University of Saint Louis
DeSales University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. DeSales University scores 74.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 60.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full critical care nursing report for DeSales University
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Allen College landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing critical care nursing. It scores 73.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the critical care nursing program at Allen College
University of Rochester came in at #7 for veteran critical care nursing students this year. University of Rochester scores 72.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 42.1, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the critical care nursing program at University of Rochester
New York University placed #8 among the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 69.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 44.9, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full critical care nursing report for New York University
Youngstown State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 69.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about critical care nursing at Youngstown State University
Case Western Reserve University placed #10 among the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. Case Western Reserve University scores 68.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.9, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
See the full critical care nursing report for Case Western Reserve University
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Seton Hall University came in at #11 for veteran critical care nursing students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 66.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 52.8, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about critical care nursing at Seton Hall University
Loyola University Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 65.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 52.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about critical care nursing at Loyola University Chicago
Barry University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. Barry University scores 61.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 81.1, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the critical care nursing program at Barry University
Ursuline College landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing critical care nursing. The school's overall veterans score is 60.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 71.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the critical care nursing program at Ursuline College
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo came in at #15 for veteran critical care nursing students this year. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo scores 57.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score.
See the full critical care nursing report for Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
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Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus placed #16 among the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 56.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full critical care nursing report for Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 50.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 85.1, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the critical care nursing program at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Oregon Health & Science University came in at #18 for veteran critical care nursing students this year. Oregon Health & Science University scores 43.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Read more about critical care nursing at Oregon Health & Science University
*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 critical care nursing: 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.
