by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study physical sciences at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 244 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing physical sciences, 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. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly physical sciences colleges below:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln tops our 2026 ranking of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the physical sciences program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware is a great choice for veterans pursuing physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the physical sciences program at University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great choice for veterans pursuing physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the physical sciences program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top physical sciences colleges for veteran students. It scores 89.9 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 physical sciences at Ohio State University-Main Campus
Veteran students seeking a strong physical 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. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about physical sciences at James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 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 physical sciences program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about physical sciences at University of Georgia
William & Mary ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 89.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the physical sciences program at William & Mary
University of South Florida came in at #9 for veteran physical sciences students this year. University of South Florida scores 89.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University came in at #11 for veteran physical sciences students this year. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 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 physical sciences report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #13 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. It scores 87.8 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. See the full physical sciences report for San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #15 for veteran physical sciences students this year. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the physical sciences program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #16 for veteran physical 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. Read more about physical sciences at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 87.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full physical sciences report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University came in at #18 for veteran physical sciences students this year. It scores 87.1 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. More about the physical sciences program at Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach placed #19 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full physical sciences report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida came in at #20 for veteran physical sciences students this year. University of Florida scores 86.4 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 physical sciences program at University of Florida
Winona State University landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing physical sciences. It scores 86.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full physical sciences report for Winona State University
Binghamton University came in at #22 for veteran physical sciences students this year. Binghamton University scores 85.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full physical sciences report for Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus came in at #23 for veteran physical sciences students this year. 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. More about the physical sciences program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University placed #24 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. Western Michigan University scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full physical sciences report for Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #25 among the best physical sciences colleges for veterans. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 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 physical sciences program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
These physical sciences 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 physical 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
