by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study public administration, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 190 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing public administration, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking 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.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked public administration colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran public administration students better than University of Delaware this year. It scores 91.1 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. See the full public administration report for University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great choice for veterans pursuing public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the public administration program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Veteran students seeking a strong public administration program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #3. 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 public administration report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing public administration, landing the #4 spot this year. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the public administration program at James Madison University
Veteran students seeking a strong public administration program will find one at University of Georgia, which ranked #5. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about public administration at University of Georgia
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University of South Florida landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about public administration at University of South Florida
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #7 for veteran public administration students this year. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the public administration program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. It scores 87.9 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 public administration report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University came in at #9 for veteran public administration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public administration colleges for veterans. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Read more about public administration at University of Alabama at Birmingham
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University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. 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 public administration at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public administration colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration program at California State University-Long Beach
Rutgers University-Newark landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. It scores 86.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration program at Rutgers University-Newark
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full public administration report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about public administration at Western Michigan University
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #16 for veteran public administration students this year. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the public administration program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best public administration colleges for veterans. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about public administration at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Rhode Island College landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. The school's overall veterans score is 84.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the public administration program at Rhode Island College
Texas Tech University came in at #19 for veteran public administration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full public administration report for Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky came in at #20 for veteran public administration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full public administration report for University of Kentucky
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Boise State University landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. Boise State University scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration at Boise State University
University of Central Florida landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing public administration. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 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 public administration report for University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #23 for veteran public administration students this year. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the public administration program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Maryland Global Campus placed #24 among the best public administration colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about public administration at University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Connecticut ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best public administration colleges for veterans. University of Connecticut scores 84.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about public administration at University of Connecticut
These public administration 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 public administration: 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.
