by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study design and applied arts, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 373 schools that serve veteran design and applied arts students especially well, 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 reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly design and applied arts colleges below:
No school served veteran design and applied arts students better than University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about design and applied arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. University of Delaware scores 91.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about design and applied arts at University of Delaware
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top design and applied arts colleges for veteran students. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 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 design and applied arts report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong design and applied arts program will find one at University of South Florida, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the design and applied arts program at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a great choice for veterans pursuing design and applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
More about the design and applied arts program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
5
East Carolina University placed #6 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the design and applied arts program at East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 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 design and applied arts at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full design and applied arts report for The University of Texas at Arlington
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #9 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full design and applied arts report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts 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, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full design and applied arts report for California State University-Long Beach
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University of Florida placed #11 among the best design and applied arts 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. Read more about design and applied arts at University of Florida
Salt Lake Community College came in at #12 for veteran design and applied arts students this year. It scores 86.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about design and applied arts at Salt Lake Community College
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #13 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full design and applied arts report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University came in at #14 for veteran design and applied arts students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the design and applied arts program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #15 for veteran design and applied arts students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the design and applied arts program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
15
University of Arkansas came in at #16 for veteran design and applied arts students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full design and applied arts report for University of Arkansas
University of California-Santa Cruz placed #17 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 85.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about design and applied arts at University of California-Santa Cruz
State University of New York at Oswego landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing design and applied arts. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about design and applied arts at State University of New York at Oswego
Texas Tech University placed #19 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the design and applied arts program at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full design and applied arts report for University of Kentucky
20
Boise State University landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing design and applied arts. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about design and applied arts at Boise State University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full design and applied arts report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Iowa State University placed #23 among the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 84.5 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. See the full design and applied arts report for Iowa State University
Eastern Michigan University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best design and applied arts colleges for veterans. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about design and applied arts at Eastern Michigan University
University of Kansas came in at #25 for veteran design and applied arts students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the design and applied arts program at University of Kansas
These design and applied arts colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 52 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 53 | Oakland University | 80.84 |
| 54 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 55 | Seminole State College of Florida | 80.71 |
| 56 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 58 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 59 | Palm Beach State College | 80.59 |
| 60 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 61 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| 62 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 63 | Gateway Technical College | 80.44 |
| 64 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 80.39 |
| 65 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 80.34 |
| 66 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 67 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 68 | Dallas College | 80.15 |
| 69 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 80.12 |
| 70 | University of Dayton | 79.91 |
| 71 | Austin Community College District | 79.88 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 79.65 |
| 73 | Park University | 79.58 |
| 74 | Winthrop University | 79.45 |
| 75 | University of California-Los Angeles | 79.36 |
*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 design and applied arts: 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.
