by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study international relations and national security studies, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 163 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing international relations and national security studies, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based 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).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly international relations and national security studies colleges below:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the international relations and national security studies program at University of Delaware
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full international relations and national security studies report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top international relations and national security studies colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about international relations and national security studies at James Madison University
A rank of #4 makes University of Georgia one of the top international relations and national security studies colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the international relations and national security studies program at University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong international relations and national security studies program will find one at William & Mary, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 89.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the international relations and national security studies program at William & Mary
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University of South Florida placed #6 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about international relations and national security studies at University of South Florida
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the international relations and national security studies program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
San Diego State University placed #8 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full international relations and national security studies report for San Diego State University
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full international relations and national security studies report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
Rutgers University-Newark landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing international relations and national security studies. Rutgers University-Newark scores 86.1 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 international relations and national security studies report for Rutgers University-Newark
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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about international relations and national security studies at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing international relations and national security studies. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full international relations and national security studies report for University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas placed #13 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 85.3 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 international relations and national security studies at University of Arkansas
University of Maryland-College Park placed #14 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 85.1 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 international relations and national security studies program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of New Mexico-Main Campus placed #15 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 85.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the international relations and national security studies program at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
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University of Kentucky placed #16 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about international relations and national security studies at University of Kentucky
Miami University-Oxford ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about international relations and national security studies at Miami University-Oxford
Portland State University came in at #18 for veteran international relations and national security studies students this year. Portland State University scores 83.6 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 international relations and national security studies at Portland State University
Texas State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 83.0 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. More about the international relations and national security studies program at Texas State University
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing international relations and national security studies. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full international relations and national security studies report for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
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Texas A&M University-College Station placed #21 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. Texas A&M University-College Station scores 82.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the international relations and national security studies program at Texas A&M University-College Station
Florida State University placed #22 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. Florida State University scores 82.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full international relations and national security studies report for Florida State University
The University of Alabama placed #23 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. It scores 82.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full international relations and national security studies report for The University of Alabama
George Mason University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing international relations and national security studies. It scores 82.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the international relations and national security studies program at George Mason University
Bellevue University placed #25 among the best international relations and national security studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the international relations and national security studies program at Bellevue University
These international relations and national security studies colleges also placed near the top this year:
*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 international relations and national security studies: 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
