by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study physical sciences, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 260 programs that serve veteran physical sciences students especially well, 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 tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best physical sciences colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly physical sciences colleges below:
Leading the list is University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our #1 physical sciences college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about physical sciences at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Veteran students seeking a strong physical sciences program will find one at University of Delaware, which ranked #2. It scores 91.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about physical sciences at University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 90.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the physical sciences program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 89.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong physical sciences program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #5. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the physical sciences program at James Madison University
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia placed #7 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full physical sciences report for University of Georgia
William & Mary came in at #8 for veteran physical sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the physical sciences program at William & Mary
University of South Florida placed #9 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about physical sciences at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 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 physical sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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East Carolina University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the physical sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #13 among the best physical sciences 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, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full physical sciences report for San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #15 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the physical sciences program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
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University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #16 for veteran physical sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about physical sciences at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. It scores 87.5 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 physical sciences at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 87.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full physical sciences report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 86.7 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 physical sciences report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full physical sciences report for University of Florida
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Winona State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. Winona State University scores 86.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full physical sciences report for Winona State University
Binghamton University placed #22 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about physical sciences at Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus came in at #23 for veteran physical sciences students this year. It scores 85.6 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 physical sciences report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University came in at #24 for veteran physical sciences students this year. Western Michigan University scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the physical sciences program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 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 physical sciences at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Not far behind, these physical sciences colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
These physical sciences colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 82.73 |
| 52 | University of Mary Washington | 82.63 |
*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 physical sciences: 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
