by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study cognitive science, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 27 programs that stand out for veteran cognitive science 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. So you can compare your options, 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? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Explore the leading cognitive science colleges for veterans below:
No school served veteran cognitive science students better than University of Delaware this year. It scores 91.1 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 cognitive science report for University of Delaware
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. It scores 89.6 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. More about the cognitive science program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. It scores 89.3 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 cognitive science report for University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong cognitive science program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #4. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about cognitive science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
University of California-Santa Cruz is a great choice for veterans pursuing cognitive science, landing the #5 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about cognitive science at University of California-Santa Cruz
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The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at The University of Texas at Dallas
University of California-Los Angeles placed #7 among the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. University of California-Los Angeles scores 79.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full cognitive science report for University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Irvine landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing cognitive science. The school's overall veterans score is 78.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the cognitive science program at University of California-Irvine
Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing cognitive science. The school's overall veterans score is 77.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.1, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full cognitive science report for Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. Carnegie Mellon University scores 77.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 42.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the cognitive science program at Carnegie Mellon University
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Washington University in St Louis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. It scores 75.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 43.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full cognitive science report for Washington University in St Louis
University of California-San Diego placed #12 among the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full cognitive science report for University of California-San Diego
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the cognitive science program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Stanford University came in at #14 for veteran cognitive science students this year. Stanford University scores 75.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 43.4, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at Stanford University
University of California-Davis landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing cognitive science. The school's overall veterans score is 74.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about cognitive science at University of California-Davis
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #16 for veteran cognitive science students this year. Johns Hopkins University scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full cognitive science report for Johns Hopkins University
University of California-Berkeley ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. It scores 73.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at University of California-Berkeley
Yale University placed #18 among the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. Yale University scores 72.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.9, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the cognitive science program at Yale University
University of Southern California came in at #19 for veteran cognitive science students this year. It scores 70.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 44.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the cognitive science program at University of Southern California
New York University landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing cognitive science. It scores 69.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 44.9, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about cognitive science at New York University
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Rice University came in at #21 for veteran cognitive science students this year. Rice University scores 69.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 46.7, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at Rice University
Case Western Reserve University came in at #22 for veteran cognitive science students this year. It scores 68.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.9, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about cognitive science at Case Western Reserve University
University of Pennsylvania came in at #23 for veteran cognitive science students this year. University of Pennsylvania scores 67.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at University of Pennsylvania
University of California-Merced ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science colleges for veterans. It scores 67.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about cognitive science at University of California-Merced
Tufts University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing cognitive science. The school's overall veterans score is 60.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 40.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about cognitive science at Tufts University
These cognitive 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 cognitive 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
