by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study geography and cartography, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 121 schools that serve veteran geography and cartography 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 analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly geography and cartography colleges below:
Leading the list is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, our #1 geography and cartography college for veterans. 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. See the full geography and cartography report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing geography and cartography, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 89.9 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. Read more about geography and cartography at Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top geography and cartography colleges for veteran students. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about geography and cartography at James Madison University
University of Georgia is a great choice for veterans pursuing geography and cartography, landing the #4 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the geography and cartography program at University of Georgia
University of South Florida is a great choice for veterans pursuing geography and cartography, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the geography and cartography program at University of South Florida
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Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about geography and cartography at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University came in at #7 for veteran geography and cartography students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 88.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about geography and cartography at East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the geography and cartography program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
San Diego State University placed #9 among the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full geography and cartography report for San Diego State University
California State University-Long Beach landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Read more about geography and cartography at California State University-Long Beach
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Binghamton University placed #11 among the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. Binghamton University scores 85.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the geography and cartography program at Binghamton University
Western Michigan University placed #12 among the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full geography and cartography report for Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #13 for veteran geography and cartography students this year. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the geography and cartography program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. The school's overall veterans score is 85.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the geography and cartography program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. It scores 85.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about geography and cartography at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
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University of Kentucky landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full geography and cartography report for University of Kentucky
University of California-Santa Barbara came in at #17 for veteran geography and cartography students this year. University of California-Santa Barbara scores 84.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full geography and cartography report for University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Connecticut landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. It scores 84.3 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 geography and cartography report for University of Connecticut
Eastern Michigan University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. The school's overall veterans score is 84.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the geography and cartography program at Eastern Michigan University
Miami University-Oxford placed #20 among the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. Miami University-Oxford scores 83.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full geography and cartography report for Miami University-Oxford
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Portland State University came in at #21 for veteran geography and cartography students this year. Portland State University scores 83.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full geography and cartography report for Portland State University
Illinois State University came in at #22 for veteran geography and cartography students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the geography and cartography program at Illinois State University
Texas State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best geography and cartography colleges for veterans. Texas State University 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 geography and cartography program at Texas State University
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about geography and cartography at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of North Carolina at Charlotte landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing geography and cartography. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about geography and cartography at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
These geography and cartography colleges also placed near the top 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 geography and cartography: 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
