by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study nursing practice, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 181 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing nursing practice, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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 analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best nursing practice colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked nursing practice colleges for veterans:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing practice 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, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the nursing practice program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing nursing practice, landing the #2 spot this year. James Madison University scores 89.6 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 nursing practice at James Madison University
Veteran students seeking a strong nursing practice program will find one at University of South Florida, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full nursing practice report for University of South Florida
Veteran students seeking a strong nursing practice program will find one at East Carolina University, which ranked #4. 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 nursing practice program at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington is a great choice for veterans pursuing nursing practice, landing the #5 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
See the full nursing practice report for The University of Texas at Arlington
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University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #6 for veteran nursing practice students this year. It scores 87.7 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 nursing practice report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing nursing practice. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about nursing practice at University of Virginia-Main Campus
University of Florida placed #8 among the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full nursing practice report for University of Florida
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health placed #9 among the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health scores 86.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the nursing practice program at Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #10 among the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about nursing practice at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
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University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. University of Alabama in Huntsville scores 85.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about nursing practice at University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. It scores 85.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full nursing practice report for University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of Kentucky landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing nursing practice. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the nursing practice program at University of Kentucky
Boise State University placed #14 among the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full nursing practice report for Boise State University
University of Central Florida ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full nursing practice report for University of Central Florida
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #16 for veteran nursing practice students this year. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 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. See the full nursing practice report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Connecticut came in at #17 for veteran nursing practice students this year. It scores 84.3 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 nursing practice report for University of Connecticut
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing nursing practice. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the nursing practice program at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Kansas came in at #19 for veteran nursing practice students this year. It scores 84.0 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. See the full nursing practice report for University of Kansas
Rutgers University-Camden came in at #20 for veteran nursing practice students this year. Rutgers University-Camden scores 83.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
See the full nursing practice report for Rutgers University-Camden
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. It scores 82.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full nursing practice report for University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Florida State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. Florida State University scores 82.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about nursing practice at Florida State University
The University of Alabama placed #23 among the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about nursing practice at The University of Alabama
George Mason University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full nursing practice report for George Mason University
University of Nevada-Reno landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing nursing practice. University of Nevada-Reno scores 81.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about nursing practice at University of Nevada-Reno
These nursing practice 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 nursing practice: 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.
