by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study nursing science, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 111 colleges that serve veteran nursing science students especially well, 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. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Here are the top-ranked nursing science colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, our #1 nursing science college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full nursing science report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Veteran students seeking a strong nursing science program will find one at University of South Florida, which ranked #2. University of South Florida scores 89.0 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. Read more about nursing science at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a great choice for veterans pursuing nursing science, landing the #3 spot this year. It scores 88.8 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 nursing science program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University is a great choice for veterans pursuing nursing science, landing the #4 spot this year. It scores 88.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about nursing science at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
More about the nursing science program at The University of Texas at Arlington
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University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #6 for veteran nursing science students this year. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the nursing science program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about nursing science at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the nursing science program at University of Virginia-Main Campus
University of Florida came in at #9 for veteran nursing science students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about nursing science at University of Florida
Binghamton University placed #10 among the best nursing science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full nursing science report for Binghamton University
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University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. It scores 85.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full nursing science report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of New Mexico-Main Campus came in at #12 for veteran nursing science students this year. It scores 85.0 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 nursing science at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of Kentucky ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 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 nursing science program at University of Kentucky
University of Central Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the nursing science program at University of Central Florida
University of Connecticut landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing nursing science. It scores 84.3 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.
More about the nursing science program at University of Connecticut
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Eastern Michigan University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full nursing science report for Eastern Michigan University
University of Kansas placed #17 among the best nursing science colleges for veterans. It scores 84.0 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. Read more about nursing science at University of Kansas
Washington State University placed #18 among the best nursing science colleges for veterans. Washington State University scores 84.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about nursing science at Washington State University
Georgia State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing nursing science. Georgia State University scores 82.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about nursing science at Georgia State University
Clemson University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. Clemson University scores 81.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the nursing science program at Clemson University
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Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 75.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the nursing science program at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
University of South Carolina-Columbia ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science colleges for veterans. It scores 81.6 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 science report for University of South Carolina-Columbia
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #23 among the best nursing science colleges for veterans. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the nursing science program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University came in at #24 for veteran nursing science students this year. Wayne State University scores 81.2 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 nursing science report for Wayne State University
Minnesota State University-Mankato landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing nursing science. Minnesota State University-Mankato scores 81.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the nursing science program at Minnesota State University-Mankato
These nursing science colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying nursing science: 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.
