by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 74 colleges for veteran and military-affiliated students in Arkansas, 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, 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 reviewed 74 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading colleges for veterans below:
University of Arkansas earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Arkansas. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.1 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
University of Central Arkansas came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Arkansas. It scores 77.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Arkansas State University, which ranked #3 this year. It scores 76.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Arkansas. Arkansas Tech University scores 75.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Out of the 74 colleges in Arkansas in this year's ranking, John Brown University landed the #5 spot. It scores 73.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 88.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Harding University earned the #6 position in Arkansas. Harding University scores 72.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff came in at #7 in this year's ranking. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff scores 70.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Philander Smith University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 70.0 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Central Baptist College landed the #9 spot in Arkansas this year. The school's overall veterans score is 69.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 68.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
University of Arkansas at Monticello placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Arkansas. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 67.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith landed the #12 spot in Arkansas this year. It scores 67.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
NorthWest Arkansas Community College earned the #13 position in Arkansas. The school's overall veterans score is 67.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Arkansas Northeastern College earned the #14 position in Arkansas. It scores 67.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock landed the #15 spot in Arkansas this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 67.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 66.0 out of 100.
Strayer University-Arkansas landed the #17 spot in Arkansas this year. It scores 65.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Arkansas Welding Academy came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Arkansas Welding Academy scores 65.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain scores 65.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Arkansas State University-Beebe came in at #20 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 65.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
North Arkansas College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 64.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Williams Baptist University landed the #22 spot in Arkansas this year. It scores 63.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Baptist Health College Little Rock earned the #23 position in Arkansas. Baptist Health College Little Rock scores 63.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #24 spot in Arkansas this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 62.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Henderson State University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. It scores 62.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Not far behind, these 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: affordability and veteran financial benefits, 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.
