Full-Time MBA Military Students | Wisconsin School of Business at UW Madison

The Wisconsin MBA is the perfect fit when you’re ready to translate the skills you developed in the military into a civilian career. You already have the leadership skills that are highly valued in the business world. The Wisconsin MBA complements your military background by enhancing the skills you have and providing you with new knowledge and insights.

A Strong Return on Investment

The Wisconsin School of Business assists students who are military veterans in ways large and small. For example, the admissions application fee is waived for domestic (non-international) military veterans who have served on active duty in the U.S. Military within three years of applying.

Financial assistance can make the Wisconsin MBA Program very affordable for qualifying military veterans. The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s competitive tuition—in addition to the GI Bill and access to merit-based scholarships—make the Wisconsin School of Business the smart choice. Combined, these resources may cover 100 percent of your Wisconsin MBA education, including tuition and living expenses.

Specialized Career Preparation

The program gives you deep knowledge in a career specialization within the context of a collaborative learning community. Whether you are building your future career on your military work experience or switching to a new career focus, the specialization model provides access to resources tailored to your individual needs and interests. You will also develop a lifelong network through contact with alumni, industry leaders, fellow students, and faculty, all focused on your field of study. The distinctive, boutique approach of the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program is perfectly suited to you if you want to achieve your career potential with speed and confidence.

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Bunker Labs is a nationwide, nonprofit organization built by veteran entrepreneurs to support veteran-led startups. Bunker Labs Madison provides Wisconsin MBA students who are military veterans with a unique opportunity to pursue their interest in entrepreneurship and network with other entrepreneurs in the city of Madison.

Resources for Military Students

As a military student at the Wisconsin School of Business, you will find ample support from both UW–Madison and the greater Madison community. Here are a few of the resources that our military and veteran students find most valuable.

The MBA Veterans Club provides an opportunity to network and build a community with other military and veteran Wisconsin MBA students.
Serving veterans who require medical care, the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, a nationally recognized VA Hospital, is close to campus.
The Veterans Service and Military Assistance Center at UW–Madison supports veterans and military campus-wide.

Post 9/11 GI Bill

The Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay all tuition expenses for military veterans who qualify.

Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, both in-state and non-Wisconsin-resident veterans will receive in-state tuition rates. This means that veterans who qualify for Post 9/11 GI Bill funding will have all of their tuition covered, whether they are Wisconsin residents or not. Those who do not qualify can receive financial assistance with tuition costs under the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Veteran’s Choice Act (2014): In-State Rates for Certain Veterans

To qualify for in-state rates while using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a student must be a veteran (no longer on active duty) or on terminal leave (final leave or vacation being used up prior to their actual end date). Students must also enroll within three years of leaving active duty.

Yellow Ribbon Program

As a Yellow Ribbon School, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has an agreement with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to supplement the Post 9/11 GI Bill when needed. Jointly, UW–Madison and the VA cover the non-resident fees for those students who do not already qualify for in-state tuition and fees under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, making the cost of the Wisconsin MBA more affordable.

Merit-based financial aid

Military veterans will be considered for merit-based financial assistance awarded by the Wisconsin School of Business; no separate merit-based financial aid application is required. Many students have received some merit-based aid in the form of scholarships or fellowships.

GMAT/GRE Waiver for U.S. Military

The Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program seeks to build a well-rounded class with diverse professional, academic, and personal backgrounds. U.S. active military and U.S. veteran applicants can apply for admission without a GMAT or GRE score to the full-time MBA program if the following requirements are met:

An undergraduate degree from a U.S. accredited university or college with a GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Grade of B or higher in the following undergraduate courses:

Economics
Statistics or one advanced math course

For admission to the program, your academic ability will be evaluated on your undergraduate transcripts. Graduate transcripts will be taken into consideration, as well as any other transcript you submit that has a course for grade. However, if you do submit a GMAT or GRE at admission, that test score will be used when reviewing your candidacy.

Candidates admitted with the GMAT/GRE waiver are not eligible for merit-based aid.

You qualify to request a test waiver for the GMAT or GRE if you meet one of the four sets of criteria below.

Qualification Set 1
- At least five years professional full-time work experience
- Undergraduate degree from a U.S. accredited university or college
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- At least one advanced math course or quantitative course like finance or accounting with a B or better.

or

Qualification Set 2 (If you studied outside the U.S.)
- Submission of original transcripts, along with transcripts evaluated by World Evaluation Services (WES)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- At least one advanced math course or quantitative course like finance or accounting with a B or better
- At least five years professional full-time work experience.

or

Qualification Set 3
- Awarded a terminal degree, such as JD, MD, PhD, or equivalent credentials from an accredited U.S. institution.

or

Qualification Set 4 (U.S. Military active duty or a veteran)
- Undergraduate degree from a U.S. accredited university or college
- Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- At least one advanced math or quantitative course like finance or accounting with a B or better.

Complete waiver application

A veteran of six years in the Marine Corps describes his experience as a Wisconsin Full-Time MBA student.

“I chose the Wisconsin School of Business due to the specialized curriculum. While my time in the military gave me great management and problem-solving experience, the case-focused curriculum at Madison will give me the business acumen to hit the ground running at any company.”

—William Bishop, MBA
U.S. Army Veteran

“The University of Wisconsin really set me up for success when it came to my summer internship. There were some nerves about going into a field I had no background in, but the program tailored the first year to cover all the fundamental skills you need to know to be successful in business, as well as in-depth classes for specialization. This knowledge, paired with the leadership skills I gained in the military, became a powerful asset in my internship. The summer flew by and it was an amazing time to work on global brands. I helped make impactful decisions on multi-million dollar brands, as well as having a great time with the company.”

—Sarah Phillips, MBA
U.S. Air Force Veteran

“I chose Wisconsin for the unique specialization model, as well as the genuine enthusiasm for the program shared by students, faculty, and staff. I honestly made my decision to come to Wisconsin before finishing my campus visit. There truly is something special about the program that is better experienced in person. The feeling of community in Grainger Hall closely resembles the camaraderie I felt during my military service.”

—Matt Bartoe, MBA
Former U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps

Need help choosing a career specialization?

You may have questions about which specialization would be the perfect fit. We’d be happy to speak with you about your goals and the specializations you are considering.

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