The higher education community made great strides in recent years in helping military veterans transition to civilian life. That progress is evident in the exemplary institutions that receive Military Friendly recognition. Northwest Missouri State University is proud to be one of the recipients of this honor since 2013. This demonstrates that veterans who enroll in Northwest’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs will receive the support and services they need to advance their education and careers successfully.
A Military Friendly School
The Military Friendly program offers a comprehensive guide veterans can rely on as they choose a university. The Military Friendly list uses public data sources from over 8,800 institutions, but only 537 schools received designations at the Gold, Silver or Bronze level for 2024-2025. An advisory council, in partnership with an independent research firm, gathered data from veteran students and federal agencies and developed the survey criteria, methodology and questions.
Universities are evaluated for federal programs for veterans including the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, Official Commitment to 8 Keys to Vet Success, and the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance Funding. The schools are each scored on retention, graduation, job placement, loan default and transfer rates. Graduation and career outcomes as well as military student support and retention are the criteria with the heaviest weightings.
What does this mean for the veteran with aspirations of transitioning their training, experiences and values to the business world? According to the Military Friendly FAQs website, the program “creates civilian opportunities for veterans. By setting a standard, promoting it and raising the bar over time, it provides long-term, positive reinforcement for American organizations to invest in programs that improve the lives of veterans. It’s about creating demand for veterans in the private sector.”
Military Friendly Schools invest heavily in the futures of American veterans, and they deserve this level of commitment.
A Flexible, Affordable Online Program
Current military members who can be deployed at a moment’s notice need flexibility — as do veteran working professionals. The 100% online format of this program is ideally suited to both groups. There are five start dates each year, so students can begin when the time is right for them. Students can complete coursework at their convenience and can access the materials from any internet-enabled device.
Round Out Military Training With Business Acumen
Northwest offers veterans the opportunity to earn a general MBA or a specialized MBA in areas like management, business analytics, human resource management or marketing online. Core courses in areas including managerial accounting, financial management, organizational behavior and strategic marketing train veterans in business and leadership fundamentals, while concentration courses provide further emphasis in a chosen area. Military experience often provides veteran students with a leg up in understanding key business concepts as they apply to real-world scenarios.
Optimize Transferable “Soft” Skills
Military training can be instrumental in helping develop successful business professionals and leaders in every industry. There are many examples of former military leaders who have risen to the elite ranks of corporate leadership. In fact, veterans who serve on the frontlines hone many of the skills employers value. In fact, respondents to GMAC’s 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey believe both soft and hard skills like collaboration and teamwork, communication, time management and technical skills will be important both now and in the future. Northwest’s online MBA programs develop and refine these skills for application in business:
- Collaboration: The designs of modern offices testify to the emphasis the corporate world places on teamwork. Many of today’s projects are collaborative, and former service members have indispensable experience working with others and executing their roles with precision to ensure the success of their collective missions.
- Communication: Military members work with diverse groups of people, including peers, contractors and citizens of foreign countries. They have had to overcome communication barriers such as language and cultural differences, often in life-threatening situations, so they are well-equipped to handle even the toughest communication challenges in the business environment.
- Time Management: Few professionals have the pressures and time constraints of military personnel. Veterans know how to balance professional, military and personal obligations, and how to maximize productivity, every hour of every day.
- Technical Skills: The military provides excellent technical training in fields like aeronautics and engineering, with real-world exposure to products and services in these industries. Northwest’s online MBA programs round out technical skills with business skills, making graduates highly desirable in these industries.
Military members and veterans deserve every opportunity to transition successfully to civilian life and the world of business. Northwest provides a bridge to these opportunities in its online MBA programs and through its veteran resources and accommodations.
Learn more about Northwest’s online MBA programs.
