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No school served veteran and military students better than University of North Dakota this year in North Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 77.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability 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. This list highlights 24 colleges for veteran and military-affiliated students in North Dakota, 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, 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 reviewed 24 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The right college for a veteran depends on what matters most to you. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the leading colleges for veterans below:
No school served veteran and military students better than University of North Dakota this year in North Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 77.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Out of the 24 colleges in North Dakota in this year's ranking, Bismarck State College landed the #2 spot. The school's overall veterans score is 76.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Out of the 24 colleges in North Dakota in this year's ranking, North Dakota State University-Main Campus landed the #3 spot. North Dakota State University-Main Campus scores 72.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Mary came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in North Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 72.5 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Valley City State University earned the #5 place in North Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 72.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School came in at #6 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 67.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Minot State University earned the #7 position in North Dakota. It scores 67.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Rasmussen University-North Dakota placed #8 among the best colleges for veterans in North Dakota. It scores 67.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Dakota College at Bottineau came in at #9 in this year's ranking. It scores 64.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Mayville State University landed the #10 spot in North Dakota this year. The school's overall veterans score is 63.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Lake Region State College placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in North Dakota. It scores 62.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
United Tribes Technical College landed the #12 spot in North Dakota this year. United Tribes Technical College scores 60.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Williston State College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Williston State College scores 60.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Turtle Mountain Community College earned the #14 position in North Dakota. The school's overall veterans score is 59.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
North Dakota State College of Science earned the #15 position in North Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 58.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
University of Jamestown landed the #16 spot in North Dakota this year. The school's overall veterans score is 57.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Dickinson State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 56.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Sitting Bull College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 54.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Lynnes Welding Training placed #19 among the best colleges for veterans in North Dakota. It scores 53.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Cankdeska Cikana Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 52.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
The Hair Academy ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 51.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo placed #22 among the best colleges for veterans in North Dakota. The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo scores 44.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College placed #23 among the best colleges for veterans in North Dakota. Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College scores 44.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body, Grand Forks ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 37.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
*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.
