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UNO Ranked No. 5 School in the Nation for Veterans

Military Times is again recognizing UNO as a top institution for military-connected students and veterans to receive their education, both online and in-person.

  • published: 2026/11/09
  • contact: Marlo Larsen - UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Four students in Air Force ROTC uniforms stand in a line.

The Air Force ROTC Detachment 470 held its change of command ceremony at the Health and Kinesiology Building on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (UNO/Ryan Soderlin)

Once again, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is being recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for military veterans to get their education, either in-person or online.

What’s happening: A new Military Times ranking has placed UNO No. 5 overall out of 370 universities across the nation in the 2026 Best for Vets: College Rankings.

Zoom in: UNO’s full Best for Vets profile:

  • No. 1 in Nebraska
  • No. 1 in the Central Region
  • No. 2 in traditional and online education
  • No. 4 among all public universities
  • No. 5 among all public and private universities

Why it matters: UNO is home to more than 1,600 military-connected students, and has been serving military-connected students for over 70 years.

  • The Military Times’ Best for Vets is the largest and most comprehensive ranking of the best schools for military service members and veterans. The publication makes its rankings based on available services, campus culture, academic outcomes, transitional support, and financial policies
  • This year marks the third consecutive year that UNO has been ranked in the top five among public universities, a major recognition of university-wide support of military-connected students led by the Office of Military and Veteran Services.

What they’re saying:

  • Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, UNO Chancellor: “To be once again ranked as one of the best universities in the nation for education for our veterans and military-connected community is an honor, and does not come without hard, dedicated work from our Maverick family and our Military and Veterans Services Office. We are humbled each day that those who chose to serve our country feel supported, welcomed and excited to receive an education that sets them up for life at our university.”
  • Chase Kratochvil, Director of Federal and Military Relations: “This ranking reflects the tireless work of the UNO community in serving our military-connected students. It shows that when a university like UNO is aligned from top to bottom in serving our military-connected students, great things are possible. UNO looks forward to building upon this and continuing to find innovative ways to serve this selfless group of military-connected Mavericks.”
  • Sara Karnowski, Director, Military and Veterans Services: “We are honored by this recognition, but our greatest measure of success is the impact we have on those we serve. Supporting our military-connected community is both a privilege and a responsibility, and we remain committed to making UNO a place where they belong and thrive.”

Related: In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings, UNO earned the ranking of No. 3 in the nation for Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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