by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study development economics and international development, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 17 colleges that serve veteran development economics and international development 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. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Explore the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading development economics and international development colleges for veterans below:
Ohio University-Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the development economics and international development program at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Dayton is a great choice for veterans pursuing development economics and international development, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 57.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the development economics and international development program at University of Dayton
University of California-Los Angeles is a great choice for veterans pursuing development economics and international development, landing the #3 spot this year. University of California-Los Angeles scores 79.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the development economics and international development program at University of California-Los Angeles
American University is a great choice for veterans pursuing development economics and international development, landing the #4 spot this year. American University scores 79.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 48.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the development economics and international development program at American University
University of St Thomas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 51.9, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the development economics and international development program at University of St Thomas
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University of Arizona came in at #6 for veteran development economics and international development students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about development economics and international development at University of Arizona
Cornell University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. Cornell University scores 75.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full development economics and international development report for Cornell University
Cleveland State University came in at #8 for veteran development economics and international development students this year. Cleveland State University scores 75.5 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. See the full development economics and international development report for Cleveland State University
Georgetown University came in at #9 for veteran development economics and international development students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about development economics and international development at Georgetown University
University of Vermont came in at #10 for veteran development economics and international development students this year. University of Vermont scores 73.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
More about the development economics and international development program at University of Vermont
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University of Denver placed #11 among the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.7, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about development economics and international development at University of Denver
Calvin University placed #12 among the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 69.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 70.1, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the development economics and international development program at Calvin University
Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing development economics and international development. Tulane University of Louisiana scores 68.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.4, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the development economics and international development program at Tulane University of Louisiana
Northeastern University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing development economics and international development. Northeastern University scores 64.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 43.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the development economics and international development program at Northeastern University
Brandeis University landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing development economics and international development. Brandeis University scores 62.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.8, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score.
See the full development economics and international development report for Brandeis University
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Williams College landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing development economics and international development. The school's overall veterans score is 60.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.8, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. Read more about development economics and international development at Williams College
Emory University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best development economics and international development colleges for veterans. Emory University scores 51.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 44.6, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about development economics and international development at Emory University
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying development economics and international development: 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.
