Military personnel, both veterans and those still active, are an important demographic to MBA programs, particularly in the US.
In 2013, education network, Military MBA, suggested that across 50 MBA programs in the US, military enrollment represented 8% of the total – and close to double the proportion found in 2010. These numbers were higher still among blended and online MBA programs, where a greater degree of flexibility is on offer to those still serving.
Part of the reason for this at least, is the GI Bill – US legislation that includes educational assistance for military personnel. Although, according to the Military Times, more than half of private business schools have tuition that is above the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap, many schools participate in what is known as the Yellow Ribbon program, which can help bridge this gap.
Even so, for those considering making the transition between the military and business worlds, it’s worth reinforcing the value of an MBA.
In the video below, Kyle Bate, a US Air Force veteran and academic advisor at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, talks through how he feels military personnel can benefit from, and add value to, MBA programs.
In particular, Bate points out that the skills one picks up in the military – where leadership training and the management of resources are central – are skills that are sought after in the business world, and among MBA admissions officers.
