by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study public administration. at the Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 174 programs that stand out for veteran public administration. 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. So you can compare your options, 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 tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly public administration. colleges below:
Leading the list is University of Delaware, our #1 public administration. college for veterans. University of Delaware scores 91.1 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 public administration. at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong public administration. program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. It scores 90.4 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. Read more about public administration. at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top public administration. colleges for veteran students. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about public administration. at Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public administration. colleges for veterans. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full public administration. report for James Madison University
University of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the public administration. program at University of Georgia
University of South Florida landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. 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 public administration. program at University of South Florida
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration. colleges for veterans. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full public administration. report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration. program at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best public administration. colleges for veterans. It scores 87.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration. program at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #10 among the best public administration. colleges for veterans. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about public administration. at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the public administration. program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach placed #12 among the best public administration. 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, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full public administration. report for California State University-Long Beach
Rutgers University-Newark came in at #13 for veteran public administration. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration. program at Rutgers University-Newark
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration. colleges for veterans. It scores 85.6 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 public administration. report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. Western Michigan University scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full public administration. report for Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #16 among the best public administration. colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 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. Read more about public administration. at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Texas Tech University came in at #17 for veteran public administration. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full public administration. report for Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky came in at #18 for veteran public administration. students this year. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the public administration. program at University of Kentucky
Boise State University came in at #19 for veteran public administration. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the public administration. program at Boise State University
University of Central Florida placed #20 among the best public administration. colleges for veterans. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full public administration. report for University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #21 for veteran public administration. students this year. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about public administration. at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Connecticut placed #22 among the best public administration. colleges for veterans. University of Connecticut scores 84.3 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. See the full public administration. report for University of Connecticut
Eastern Michigan University placed #23 among the best public administration. colleges for veterans. Eastern Michigan University scores 84.3 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 public administration. report for Eastern Michigan University
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about public administration. at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Kansas landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing public administration.. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about public administration. at University of Kansas
Not far behind, these public administration. colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*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 public administration.: 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.
