by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study social sciences at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 608 schools that stand out for veteran social sciences 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. 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? 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 social sciences colleges below:
Leading the list is University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our #1 social sciences college for veterans. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Delaware is a great choice for veterans pursuing social 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, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. It scores 90.4 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 social sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #4. It scores 89.9 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. More about the social sciences program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. 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 social sciences program at James Madison University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the social sciences program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia placed #7 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about social sciences at University of Georgia
William & Mary placed #8 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. William & Mary scores 89.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at William & Mary
University of South Florida ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the social sciences program at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full social sciences report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater came in at #11 for veteran social sciences students this year. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scores 88.5 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 social sciences report for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
East Carolina University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full social sciences report for East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #13 for veteran social sciences students this year. 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, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about social sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University placed #15 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. 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. More about the social sciences program at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #16 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about social sciences at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about social sciences at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University placed #19 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full social sciences report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about social sciences at University of Florida
Rutgers University-Newark came in at #22 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 86.1 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 social sciences report for Rutgers University-Newark
Binghamton University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. It scores 85.8 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 66.7. Read more about social sciences at Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #25 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 85.4 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 social sciences program at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
These social sciences colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Arkansas State University | 83.41 |
| 52 | Southern New Hampshire University | 83.35 |
| 53 | Rutgers University-Camden | 83.32 |
| 54 | Illinois State University | 83.01 |
| 55 | Texas State University | 83.01 |
| 56 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 82.95 |
| 57 | National University | 82.75 |
| 58 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 82.73 |
| 59 | University of North Alabama | 82.65 |
| 60 | University of Mary Washington | 82.63 |
These social sciences colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 82.53 |
| 62 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 82.53 |
| 63 | California State University-Northridge | 82.46 |
| 64 | Florida State University | 82.43 |
| 65 | The University of Alabama | 82.38 |
| 66 | University of Northern Iowa | 82.23 |
| 67 | University of South Dakota | 82.17 |
| 68 | George Mason University | 82.15 |
| 69 | Bellevue University | 82.13 |
| 70 | Rowan University | 82.13 |
| 71 | Southern Connecticut State University | 82.10 |
| 72 | Georgia State University | 81.98 |
| 73 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 74 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 75 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 81.84 |
| 76 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 77 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 78 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 81.74 |
| 79 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
| 80 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying social 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
