by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study applied economics, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 20 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing applied economics, 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 analyzed 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 applied economics colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly applied economics colleges below:
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor tops our 2026 ranking of the best applied economics 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, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full applied economics report for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Veteran students seeking a strong applied economics program will find one at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, which ranked #2. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about applied economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Veteran students seeking a strong applied economics program will find one at Binghamton University, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 85.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about applied economics at Binghamton University
A rank of #4 makes University of Minnesota-Twin Cities one of the top applied economics colleges for veteran students. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities scores 83.0 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 applied economics program at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Florida State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 82.4 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 applied economics report for Florida State University
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University of Northern Iowa landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing applied economics. 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 applied economics at University of Northern Iowa
University at Buffalo came in at #7 for veteran applied economics students this year. It scores 80.4 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. Read more about applied economics at University at Buffalo
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing applied economics. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the applied economics program at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
University of California-Los Angeles came in at #9 for veteran applied economics students this year. It scores 79.4 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 applied economics report for University of California-Los Angeles
Utah State University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing applied economics. It scores 78.0 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 applied economics report for Utah State University
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University of Arizona ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 78.0 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 applied economics at University of Arizona
Marquette University placed #12 among the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 77.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 55.7, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full applied economics report for Marquette University
Carnegie Mellon University placed #13 among the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 77.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.5, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the applied economics program at Carnegie Mellon University
University of Houston ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 75.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about applied economics at University of Houston
Georgetown University came in at #15 for veteran applied economics students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full applied economics report for Georgetown University
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Southern Methodist University landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing applied economics. It scores 73.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the applied economics program at Southern Methodist University
University of Central Oklahoma ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 71.8 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 applied economics program at University of Central Oklahoma
Farmingdale State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 68.9 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. More about the applied economics program at Farmingdale State College
St Catherine University placed #19 among the best applied economics colleges for veterans. It scores 60.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 54.5, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about applied economics at St Catherine University
Ursinus College came in at #20 for veteran applied economics students this year. Ursinus College scores 42.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.8, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. More about the applied economics program at Ursinus College
*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 applied economics: 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.
