by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study social sciences at the Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 198 programs that serve veteran social sciences students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based 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 evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly social sciences colleges below:
No school served veteran social sciences students better than University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year. It scores 91.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the social sciences program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Veteran students seeking a strong social sciences program will find one at University of Delaware, which ranked #2. University of Delaware scores 91.1 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 social sciences program at University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great choice for veterans pursuing social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 90.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full social sciences report for 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. 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, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. 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. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 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. 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, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about social sciences 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. See the full social sciences report for University of Georgia
University of South Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the social sciences program at University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick placed #9 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 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 social sciences program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University ranked #10 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, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about social sciences at East Carolina University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 88.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about social sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #12 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans 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 came in at #13 for veteran social sciences students this year. San Diego State University scores 87.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #14 for veteran social sciences students this year. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full social sciences report for University of Alabama at Birmingham
Stony Brook University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 87.1 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 social sciences report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach placed #16 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about social sciences at California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida came in at #17 for veteran social sciences students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at University of Florida
Binghamton University landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. The school's overall veterans score is 85.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #19 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 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. More about the social sciences program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #20 among the best social sciences colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 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 social sciences at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of California-Santa Cruz came in at #21 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 85.2 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 California-Santa Cruz
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing social sciences. It scores 85.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the social sciences program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full social sciences report for University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of Kentucky ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences colleges for veterans. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about social sciences at University of Kentucky
University of Central Florida came in at #25 for veteran social sciences students this year. It scores 84.7 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 social sciences at University of Central Florida
These social sciences 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 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.
