by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 1761 programs that stand out for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students, 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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Learn more about these veteran-friendly registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges below:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 91.1 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great choice for veterans pursuing registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veteran students. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #4. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at James Madison University
Veteran students seeking a strong registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program will find one at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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University of South Florida came in at #6 for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students this year. It scores 89.0 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University placed #10 among the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 87.8 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.
See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for San Diego State University
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University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #11 among the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. 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. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #12 among the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus placed #13 among the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University came in at #14 for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students this year. Stony Brook University scores 87.1 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at California State University-Long Beach
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University of Florida came in at #16 for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students this year. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for University of Florida
Santa Fe College came in at #17 for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students this year. Santa Fe College scores 86.3 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at Santa Fe College
Winona State University landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing. Winona State University scores 86.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for Winona State University
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health placed #19 among the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Salt Lake Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 86.0 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for Salt Lake Community College
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Binghamton University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 85.8 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 registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 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 100.0. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #23 for veteran registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing students this year. Florida State College at Jacksonville scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program at Florida State College at Jacksonville
Saddleback College landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing. It scores 85.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing report for Saddleback College
Citadel Military College of South Carolina ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing 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. Read more about registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Not far behind, these registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Explore the rest of the top 15% below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Collin County Community College District | 83.01 |
| 52 | Texas State University | 83.01 |
| 53 | Illinois State University | 83.01 |
| 54 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 82.95 |
| 55 | Broward College | 82.92 |
| 56 | Nassau Community College | 82.91 |
| 57 | Miami Dade College | 82.79 |
| 58 | National University | 82.75 |
| 59 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 82.73 |
| 60 | Tallahassee State College | 82.70 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | University of North Alabama | 82.65 |
| 62 | University of Mary Washington | 82.63 |
| 63 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 82.53 |
| 64 | Front Range Community College | 82.49 |
| 65 | California State University-Northridge | 82.46 |
| 66 | Florida State University | 82.43 |
| 67 | The University of Alabama | 82.38 |
| 68 | University of South Dakota | 82.17 |
| 69 | George Mason University | 82.15 |
| 70 | Rowan University | 82.13 |
| 71 | Southern Connecticut State University | 82.10 |
| 72 | Georgia State University | 81.98 |
| 73 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 74 | Valencia College | 81.86 |
| 75 | Southwestern College | 81.80 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 77 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 78 | Houston Community College | 81.75 |
| 79 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
| 80 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 81.64 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
