by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 839 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing liberal arts and sciences/liberal 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 evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Explore the leading liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans below:
No school served veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students better than University of Delaware this year. University of Delaware scores 91.1 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 liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for University of Delaware
A rank of #2 makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill one of the top liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veteran students. 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 liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
James Madison University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at James Madison University
University of South Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. 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. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at University of South Florida
Veteran students seeking a strong liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program will find one at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 88.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
5
East Carolina University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for East Carolina University
San Diego State University landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at San Diego State University
California State University-Long Beach landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for California State University-Long Beach
Santa Fe College placed #9 among the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at Santa Fe College
Winona State University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies. It scores 86.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Winona State University
10
Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #11 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. Florida State College at Jacksonville scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Florida State College at Jacksonville
Saddleback College landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies. Saddleback College scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Saddleback College
University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Texas Tech University came in at #14 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for University of Kentucky
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Boise State University came in at #16 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Boise State University
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #17 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Iowa State University placed #18 among the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. It scores 84.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at Iowa State University
Ohio University-Main Campus came in at #19 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 84.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Kansas came in at #20 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. It scores 84.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies report for University of Kansas
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University of Southern Indiana came in at #21 for veteran liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at University of Southern Indiana
Hillsborough Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at Hillsborough Community College
Portland State University placed #23 among the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Portland State University
Arkansas State University placed #24 among the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies program at Arkansas State University
Illinois State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies at Illinois State University
These liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more, click any college name below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 52 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 53 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 54 | Palm Beach State College | 80.59 |
| 55 | Connecticut State Community College | 80.50 |
| 56 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 57 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 58 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 59 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 60 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
These liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Pima Community College | 80.23 |
| 62 | University of Alaska Anchorage | 80.21 |
| 63 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 64 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 80.07 |
| 65 | Mesa Community College | 80.06 |
| 66 | Eastern Florida State College | 79.71 |
| 67 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 79.65 |
| 68 | University of Southern Mississippi | 79.54 |
| 69 | Montgomery College | 79.40 |
| 70 | Columbus State Community College | 79.38 |
| 71 | Weber State University | 79.18 |
| 72 | Honolulu Community College | 79.00 |
| 73 | Florida SouthWestern State College | 79.00 |
| 74 | Albany State University | 78.86 |
| 75 | Longwood University | 78.84 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Johnson County Community College | 78.84 |
| 77 | South Texas College | 78.57 |
| 78 | Daytona State College | 78.54 |
| 79 | University of Memphis | 78.51 |
| 80 | Community College of Baltimore County | 78.48 |
*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 liberal arts and sciences/liberal 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.
