by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study urban studies/affairs, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 38 colleges that serve veteran urban studies/affairs 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. 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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Explore the leading urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, our #1 urban studies/affairs college 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. See the full urban studies/affairs report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
San Diego State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full urban studies/affairs report for San Diego State University
A rank of #3 makes University of Nevada-Las Vegas one of the top urban studies/affairs colleges for veteran students. 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 urban studies/affairs report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
A rank of #4 makes University of Maryland-College Park one of the top urban studies/affairs colleges for veteran students. It scores 85.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of Maryland-College Park
A rank of #5 makes Boise State University one of the top urban studies/affairs colleges for veteran students. It scores 84.7 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 urban studies/affairs report for Boise State University
University of Connecticut landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. It scores 84.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full urban studies/affairs report for University of Connecticut
Portland State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. Portland State University scores 83.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full urban studies/affairs report for Portland State University
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities placed #8 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
California State University-Northridge landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. It scores 82.5 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 urban studies/affairs report for California State University-Northridge
Georgia State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. Georgia State University scores 82.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at Georgia State University
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #11 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 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 urban studies/affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 81.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at Wayne State University
University at Buffalo placed #13 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. University at Buffalo scores 80.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at University at Buffalo
CUNY Queens College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 79.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at CUNY Queens College
University of California-Irvine placed #15 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full urban studies/affairs report for University of California-Irvine
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The University of Texas at Austin scores 76.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at The University of Texas at Austin
University of California-San Diego came in at #17 for veteran urban studies/affairs students this year. University of California-San Diego scores 75.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of California-San Diego
Cleveland State University landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 75.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Cleveland State University
University of California-Berkeley came in at #19 for veteran urban studies/affairs students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 73.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at University of California-Berkeley
Fordham University came in at #20 for veteran urban studies/affairs students this year. It scores 73.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 43.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Fordham University
CUNY Hunter College placed #21 among the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. It scores 73.3 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 urban studies/affairs at CUNY Hunter College
Brown University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 39.8, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full urban studies/affairs report for Brown University
Boston University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs colleges for veterans. Boston University scores 71.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 41.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban studies/affairs at Boston University
Harvard University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. The school's overall veterans score is 71.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 45.9, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the urban studies/affairs program at Harvard University
University of Southern California landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing urban studies/affairs. It scores 70.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 44.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about urban studies/affairs at University of Southern California
These urban studies/affairs 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 urban studies/affairs: 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.
