Military Veterans
Why an MBA Degree?
Our Purpose
Military veterans have the distinct advantage of possessing the skills and determination necessary to succeed in the business world: you’ve bravely led others, overcome challenges, and honed organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills. By pursuing an MBA degree, you’ll learn how to translate those skills into the business world for success in your civilian career.
Our Mission
Military veterans are fully supported by dedicated Carlson School and University of Minnesota personnel to help facilitate entry into, and success during and after, the Carlson MBA Program. It is our mission to:
- help veterans assimilate back into an academic setting
- provide financial support or guidance
- provide a strong support network
- translate acquired military skills into the practice of business
Our Military Presence
Carlson MBA Veteran Students
A total of 10 current OMBA military veteran students, including:
- 3 Air Force
- 1 Army
- 1 Marine Corps
- 3 National Guard
- 2 Navy
Career Placement
A partial list of some other companies that have hired our Military Veterans for either full-time post-MBA employment or MBA summer internships:
Wells Fargo, General Mills, Upton Hill, UnitedHealth Group, Boston Consulting, Dish, Fuse, 3M, CH Robinson, Deloitte Consulting, Google, Land O'Lakes, MN Public Radio, Peabody Energy, Target, and vBench
Graduate Business Career Center Support for Military Students
Top Military Company/Organizations with Current Students & Alumni
Many military students work in a variety of functional areas including supply chain, entrepreneurship, and aerospace. The largest job functional areas for post-MBA military graduates are General Management, Military, Marketing, Strategy, Finance, and Consulting.
Military Scholarships
We have limited financial support for our Online MBA students with demonstrated financial need and academic merit, having served in one of the branches of the United States Armed Forces, and having been deemed a military veteran. Scholarship can range from $2,000-$5,000 per semester for up to 3 years
Veterans attending the University of Minnesota will be assessed resident tuition rates for their degrees. The resident tuition waiver will be automatic for veterans with a DD-214 on file that receives educational benefits. For more information or to receive in-state resident rates, please submit a copy of your DD-214 to University Veterans Services.
Veteran Perspective
Military veteran Levi Severson, '13 MBA, reflects on his transition from the military into the Carlson Executive MBA
Connect with Our Community
Dan Sundberg
'21 MBA, Online MBA Program
A career military man, Sundberg has been deployed overseas numerous times, worked for a few years at the Pentagon, and currently works as the professor of military science at the University of South Dakota. Now, he’s furthering his education through the Carlson School’s Online MBA program to help him get the business skills and acumen that will make the transition from military life to civilian life be as easy as possible. “I’m a few years away from being able to get my pension from the Army and I’m not sure what my next job will be,” he says. “I don’t know how marketable field artillery will be in my job search, so I’m hoping the Carlson School will help me develop new skills that will improve my resume and help me land a great job.”
Brianna Hughes
'22 MBA, Online MBA Program
Brianna is a West Point grad from 2014 and was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer serving in a variety of roles in fire support, operations, and property management. She is using the Online MBA to pivot from active military service to a civilian career. The Carlson Online MBA was the right choice for her as the brand and regional network was vital to help her leverage career opportunities post-graduation. She is a Minnesota native hoping to return to the area and start her civilian career in about a year. "The MBA is helping me become a more well rounded professional. Coming from a purely military background, I've acquired a great deal of leadership experience and soft skills that are difficult to teach, but I was missing some of the key knowledge necessary for business leadership roles. The Carlson MBA is filling in the gaps I have in terms of general business acumen." She accounts her MBA success to personal career coaching from the Graduate Business Career Center (GBCC). " As an online student I was concerned about my ability to network and build relationships with peers in the program. In the courses I have taken so far there is a heavy emphasis placed on group work. This aspect has elevated the online MBA experience beyond my expectations."
Military Veterans Funding Initiative
Make a financial contribution to support military veterans in the MBA program.