by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study political science and government, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 590 colleges that stand out for veteran political science and government students, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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).
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Here are the top-ranked political science and government colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran political science and government students better than University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year. It scores 91.2 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 political science and government at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware is a great choice for veterans pursuing political science and government, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the political science and government program at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong political science and government program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about political science and government at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best political science and government colleges for veterans. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full political science and government report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing political science and government, landing the #5 spot this year. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full political science and government report for James Madison University
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best political science and government 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. More about the political science and government program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best political science and government colleges for veterans. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about political science and government at University of Georgia
William & Mary came in at #8 for veteran political science and government students this year. It scores 89.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the political science and government program at William & Mary
University of South Florida came in at #9 for veteran political science and government students this year. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about political science and government at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing political science and government. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the political science and government program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater came in at #11 for veteran political science and government students this year. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scores 88.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full political science and government report for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
East Carolina University placed #12 among the best political science and government colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 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 political science and government report for East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #13 for veteran political science and government students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 88.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the political science and government program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing political science and government. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 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 political science and government at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University came in at #15 for veteran political science and government students this year. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full political science and government report for San Diego State University
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University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #16 among the best political science and government colleges for veterans. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the political science and government program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best political science and government colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about political science and government at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #18 for veteran political science and government students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the political science and government program at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University placed #19 among the best political science and government colleges for veterans. Stony Brook University scores 87.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full political science and government report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach came in at #20 for veteran political science and government students this year. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
More about the political science and government program at California State University-Long Beach
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University of Florida ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best political science and government colleges for veterans. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the political science and government program at University of Florida
Winona State University came in at #22 for veteran political science and government students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about political science and government at Winona State University
Rutgers University-Newark came in at #23 for veteran political science and government students this year. Rutgers University-Newark scores 86.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full political science and government report for Rutgers University-Newark
Salt Lake Community College landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing political science and government. The school's overall veterans score is 86.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full political science and government report for Salt Lake Community College
Binghamton University placed #25 among the best political science and government 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, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the political science and government program at Binghamton University
These political science and government colleges also placed near the top this year:
Explore the rest of the top 15% below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Portland State University | 83.58 |
| 52 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 83.46 |
| 53 | Arkansas State University | 83.41 |
| 54 | Southern New Hampshire University | 83.35 |
| 55 | Rutgers University-Camden | 83.32 |
| 56 | Texas State University | 83.01 |
| 57 | Illinois State University | 83.01 |
| 58 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 82.95 |
| 59 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 82.73 |
| 60 | University of North Alabama | 82.65 |
These political science and government colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | University of Mary Washington | 82.63 |
| 62 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 82.53 |
| 63 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 82.53 |
| 64 | California State University-Northridge | 82.46 |
| 65 | Florida State University | 82.43 |
| 66 | The University of Alabama | 82.38 |
| 67 | University of Northern Iowa | 82.23 |
| 68 | University of South Dakota | 82.17 |
| 69 | George Mason University | 82.15 |
| 70 | Rowan University | 82.13 |
| 71 | Southern Connecticut State University | 82.10 |
| 72 | Georgia State University | 81.98 |
| 73 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 74 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 75 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 81.84 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 77 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 78 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 81.74 |
| 79 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
| 80 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
*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 political science and government: 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.
