by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study public administration and social service professions, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 110 schools that stand out for veteran public administration and social service professions 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 evaluated 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.
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Explore the leading public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is University of Delaware, our #1 public administration and social service professions college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full public administration and social service professions report for University of Delaware
A rank of #2 makes University of South Florida one of the top public administration and social service professions colleges for veteran students. It scores 89.0 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 public administration and social service professions program at University of South Florida
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a great choice for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions, landing the #3 spot this year. It scores 87.6 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 public administration and social service professions program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration and social service professions program at Florida State College at Jacksonville
A rank of #5 makes Ohio University-Main Campus one of the top public administration and social service professions colleges for veteran students. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about public administration and social service professions at Ohio University-Main Campus
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Southern New Hampshire University placed #6 among the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. It scores 83.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Southern New Hampshire University
Nassau Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. Nassau Community College scores 82.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Nassau Community College
Bellevue University placed #8 among the best public administration and social service professions 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, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full public administration and social service professions report for Bellevue University
Colorado State University Global came in at #9 for veteran public administration and social service professions students this year. Colorado State University Global scores 81.7 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 public administration and social service professions program at Colorado State University Global
Towson University came in at #10 for veteran public administration and social service professions students this year. It scores 80.9 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 public administration and social service professions report for Towson University
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Connecticut State Community College came in at #11 for veteran public administration and social service professions students this year. Connecticut State Community College scores 80.5 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 public administration and social service professions report for Connecticut State Community College
California State University-Fullerton ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. California State University-Fullerton scores 80.3 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 public administration and social service professions report for California State University-Fullerton
Fitchburg State University landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions. Fitchburg State University scores 79.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Fitchburg State University
Fresno City College landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions. The school's overall veterans score is 78.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the public administration and social service professions program at Fresno City College
Columbia College landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full public administration and social service professions report for Columbia College
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Empire State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. Empire State University scores 78.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Empire State University
University of Arizona placed #17 among the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full public administration and social service professions report for University of Arizona
University of Baltimore came in at #18 for veteran public administration and social service professions students this year. University of Baltimore scores 77.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration and social service professions at University of Baltimore
Goodwin University placed #19 among the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full public administration and social service professions report for Goodwin University
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice placed #20 among the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the public administration and social service professions program at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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Indian River State College came in at #21 for veteran public administration and social service professions students this year. It scores 77.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the public administration and social service professions program at Indian River State College
Central Washington University placed #22 among the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. Central Washington University scores 77.0 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 public administration and social service professions report for Central Washington University
Liberty University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions. Liberty University scores 76.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Liberty University
Grand Canyon University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing public administration and social service professions. The school's overall veterans score is 75.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration and social service professions at Grand Canyon University
Cleveland State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best public administration and social service professions colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full public administration and social service professions report for Cleveland State University
These public administration and social service professions colleges also placed near the top 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 public administration and social service professions: 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.
