by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study geological and earth sciences/geosciences, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 152 programs that stand out for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on 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).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students better than University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great choice for veterans pursuing geological and earth sciences/geosciences, 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, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing geological and earth sciences/geosciences, landing the #3 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. James Madison University scores 89.6 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 geological and earth sciences/geosciences at James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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University of Georgia came in at #6 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. University of Georgia scores 89.3 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 geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Georgia
William & Mary landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing geological and earth sciences/geosciences. It scores 89.2 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 geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at William & Mary
University of South Florida placed #8 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick placed #9 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 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. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University came in at #10 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. 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.
More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at East Carolina University
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #11 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about geological and earth sciences/geosciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #12 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at The University of Texas at Arlington
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #13 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. It scores 87.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Stony Brook University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. It scores 87.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach placed #15 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at California State University-Long Beach
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University of Florida landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing geological and earth sciences/geosciences. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Florida
Binghamton University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences 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. Read more about geological and earth sciences/geosciences at Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus came in at #18 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about geological and earth sciences/geosciences at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University placed #19 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #20 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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University of Arkansas ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Arkansas
University of California-Santa Cruz came in at #22 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about geological and earth sciences/geosciences at University of California-Santa Cruz
State University of New York at Oswego came in at #23 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about geological and earth sciences/geosciences at State University of New York at Oswego
Texas Tech University placed #24 among the best geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges for veterans. Texas Tech University scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the geological and earth sciences/geosciences program at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky came in at #25 for veteran geological and earth sciences/geosciences students this year. 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. See the full geological and earth sciences/geosciences report for University of Kentucky
Not far behind, these geological and earth sciences/geosciences colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*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 geological and earth sciences/geosciences: 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.
