by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study general studies, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 471 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing general studies, 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 reviewed 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.
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Here are the top-ranked general studies colleges for veterans:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best general studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full general studies report for University of Delaware
A rank of #2 makes University of Michigan-Ann Arbor one of the top general studies colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the general studies program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
A rank of #3 makes The University of Texas at Arlington one of the top general studies colleges for veteran students. It scores 87.9 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 general studies report for The University of Texas at Arlington
Veteran students seeking a strong general studies program will find one at University of Alabama at Birmingham, which ranked #4. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full general studies report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
A rank of #5 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the top general studies colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 86.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about general studies at Salt Lake Community College
5
Texas Tech University landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing general studies. It scores 84.8 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 general studies report for Texas Tech University
University of Connecticut landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing general studies. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about general studies at University of Connecticut
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing general studies. The school's overall veterans score is 83.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about general studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
Arkansas State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general studies colleges for veterans. Arkansas State University scores 83.4 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 general studies report for Arkansas State University
Southern New Hampshire University placed #10 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. 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.
Read more about general studies at Southern New Hampshire University
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Dakota State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.2 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 general studies report for Dakota State University
Texas State University placed #12 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. Texas State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about general studies at Texas State University
Illinois State University came in at #13 for veteran general studies students this year. Illinois State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full general studies report for Illinois State University
Collin County Community College District ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general studies colleges for veterans. Collin County Community College District scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the general studies program at Collin County Community College District
National University came in at #15 for veteran general studies students this year. It scores 82.8 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.
See the full general studies report for National University
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Front Range Community College placed #16 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. Front Range Community College scores 82.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full general studies report for Front Range Community College
University of South Dakota came in at #17 for veteran general studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about general studies at University of South Dakota
George Mason University placed #18 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. It scores 82.2 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 general studies report for George Mason University
Georgia Southern University placed #19 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. Georgia Southern University scores 81.9 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 general studies report for Georgia Southern University
Houston Community College came in at #20 for veteran general studies students this year. It scores 81.8 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 general studies program at Houston Community College
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SUNY Buffalo State University placed #21 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. It scores 81.7 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 general studies at SUNY Buffalo State University
University of Nevada-Reno ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general studies colleges for veterans. It scores 81.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the general studies program at University of Nevada-Reno
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general studies colleges for veterans. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus scores 81.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 75.7, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the general studies program at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Middle Tennessee State University placed #24 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. It scores 81.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about general studies at Middle Tennessee State University
Columbia Southern University placed #25 among the best general studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the general studies program at Columbia Southern University
Not far behind, these general studies colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Explore the rest of the top 15% below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Winston-Salem State University | 77.43 |
| 52 | Ferris State University | 77.39 |
| 53 | Community College of Allegheny County | 77.20 |
| 54 | State University of New York at Cortland | 77.20 |
| 55 | Oklahoma City Community College | 77.15 |
| 56 | Carnegie Mellon University | 77.07 |
| 57 | University of North Dakota | 77.07 |
| 58 | American Public University System | 77.02 |
| 59 | Central Texas College | 76.99 |
| 60 | College of Lake County | 76.89 |
These general studies colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | 76.85 |
| 62 | Shelton State Community College | 76.71 |
| 63 | SUNY Morrisville | 76.68 |
| 64 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 76.33 |
| 65 | Howard Community College | 76.31 |
| 66 | Iowa Western Community College | 76.22 |
| 67 | William Rainey Harper College | 76.21 |
| 68 | Pikes Peak State College | 76.03 |
| 69 | Pueblo Community College | 76.01 |
| 70 | Community College of Rhode Island | 75.93 |
| 71 | West Virginia University | 75.91 |
| 72 | Arkansas Tech University | 75.85 |
| 73 | McLennan Community College | 75.84 |
| 74 | Phoenix College | 75.81 |
| 75 | Marshall University | 75.69 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | University of Massachusetts Global | 75.68 |
| 77 | Shepherd University | 75.54 |
| 78 | Des Moines Area Community College | 75.48 |
| 79 | Tarleton State University | 75.44 |
| 80 | Austin Peay State University | 75.42 |
*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 general studies: 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.
