by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study social sciences, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 631 schools that stand out for veteran social sciences 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 reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best social sciences colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked social sciences colleges for veterans:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln tops our 2026 ranking of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 91.2 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 social sciences program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at University of Delaware, which ranked #2. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about social sciences at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the social sciences program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #5. 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 social sciences at James Madison University
5
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #6 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about social sciences at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of Georgia
William & Mary landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. It scores 89.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for William & Mary
University of South Florida came in at #9 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 89.0 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 100.0. Read more about social sciences at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
See the full social sciences report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater placed #11 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 88.5 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 social sciences program at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
East Carolina University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 88.2 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 social sciences report for East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #13 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 88.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the social sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #14 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the social sciences program at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University came in at #15 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
See the full social sciences report for San Diego State University
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University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #16 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #17 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the social sciences program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #18 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about social sciences at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University came in at #19 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about social sciences at Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach placed #20 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 86.7 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 100.0.
Read more about social sciences at California State University-Long Beach
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University of Florida placed #21 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the social sciences program at University of Florida
Rutgers University-Newark placed #22 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-Newark scores 86.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at Rutgers University-Newark
Salt Lake Community College placed #23 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 86.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at Salt Lake Community College
Binghamton University placed #24 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 85.8 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. More about the social sciences program at Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about social sciences at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
These social sciences colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 83.46 |
| 52 | Arkansas State University | 83.41 |
| 53 | Southern New Hampshire University | 83.35 |
| 54 | Rutgers University-Camden | 83.32 |
| 55 | Texas State University | 83.01 |
| 56 | Illinois State University | 83.01 |
| 57 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 82.95 |
| 58 | National University | 82.75 |
| 59 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 82.73 |
| 60 | University of North Alabama | 82.65 |
These schools also stood out:
| 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 | Bellevue University | 82.13 |
| 71 | Rowan University | 82.13 |
| 72 | Southern Connecticut State University | 82.10 |
| 73 | Georgia State University | 81.98 |
| 74 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 75 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 81.84 |
| 77 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 78 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 79 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 81.74 |
| 80 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
*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 social sciences: 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.
