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Leading the list is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, our #1 best college for veterans in Minnesota. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
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. We have ranked 82 schools for veteran and military-affiliated students in Minnesota, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 82 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? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, our #1 best college for veterans in Minnesota. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Out of the 82 colleges in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Winona State University landed the #2 spot. It scores 84.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Minnesota-Duluth earned the #3 place in Minnesota. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Minnesota State University-Mankato came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Minnesota. The school's overall veterans score is 81.1 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #5 place in Minnesota. Minnesota State University Moorhead scores 80.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Saint Cloud State University earned the #6 position in Minnesota. It scores 80.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 79.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Minnesota-Crookston ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. University of Minnesota-Crookston scores 79.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Capella University earned the #9 position in Minnesota. It scores 78.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Normandale Community College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 76.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College scores 75.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Minneapolis Community and Technical College scores 74.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Dakota County Technical College earned the #13 position in Minnesota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Inver Hills Community College earned the #14 position in Minnesota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Concordia College at Moorhead placed #15 among the best colleges for veterans in Minnesota. Concordia College at Moorhead scores 74.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 90.3, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd placed #16 among the best colleges for veterans in Minnesota. The school's overall veterans score is 74.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Century College landed the #17 spot in Minnesota this year. It scores 74.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Southwest Minnesota State University placed #18 among the best colleges for veterans in Minnesota. It scores 74.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Bethel University placed #20 among the best colleges for veterans in Minnesota. Bethel University scores 74.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 63.2, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Hamline University earned the #21 position in Minnesota. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Dunwoody College of Technology came in at #22 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 73.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Northwest Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
North Hennepin Community College earned the #24 position in Minnesota. It scores 72.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Minnesota North College landed the #25 spot in Minnesota this year. The school's overall veterans score is 72.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
These colleges also placed near the top 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
