by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study urban studies/affairs, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 38 colleges that stand out for veteran urban studies/affairs students, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly urban studies/affairs colleges below:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full urban studies/affairs report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
San Diego State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at San Diego State University
A rank of #3 makes University of Nevada-Las Vegas one of the top urban studies/affairs colleges for veteran students. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
A rank of #4 makes University of Maryland-College Park one of the top urban studies/affairs colleges for veteran students. It scores 85.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of Maryland-College Park
Veteran students seeking a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at Boise State University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
More about the urban studies/affairs program at Boise State University
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University of Connecticut landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. University of Connecticut scores 84.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at University of Connecticut
Portland State University came in at #7 for veteran urban studies/affairs students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Portland State University
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities scores 83.0 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 urban studies/affairs program at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
California State University-Northridge ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 82.5 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 urban studies/affairs program at California State University-Northridge
Georgia State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 82.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the urban studies/affairs program at Georgia State University
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Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban studies/affairs at Wayne State University
University at Buffalo placed #13 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 80.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at University at Buffalo
CUNY Queens College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 79.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at CUNY Queens College
University of California-Irvine landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. It scores 78.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full urban studies/affairs report for University of California-Irvine
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The University of Texas at Austin landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 76.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at The University of Texas at Austin
University of California-San Diego landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 75.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full urban studies/affairs report for University of California-San Diego
Cleveland State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. Cleveland State University scores 75.5 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 urban studies/affairs at Cleveland State University
University of California-Berkeley came in at #19 for veteran urban studies/affairs students this year. University of California-Berkeley scores 73.4 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 urban studies/affairs report for University of California-Berkeley
Fordham University placed #20 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 73.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 43.8, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the urban studies/affairs program at Fordham University
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CUNY Hunter College landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 73.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full urban studies/affairs report for CUNY Hunter College
Brown University landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 73.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 39.8, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Brown University
Boston University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full urban studies/affairs report for Boston University
Harvard University placed #24 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.9, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Harvard University
University of Southern California ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. University of Southern California scores 70.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 44.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of Southern California
Not far behind, these urban studies/affairs colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying urban studies/affairs: 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.
