The Tippie College of Business Iowa

Tippie College of Business: By The Numbers

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Veteran Enrollment

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Military Grants & Scholarships

NVLF-Fisher Full-Time MBA Scholarship for Veterans

Each scholarship is valued up to $50,000 for each academic school year.

The Ohio State Military and Veterans Services

As a veteran/service member or family member, you may also be eligible for VA education benefits and/or tuition assistance (G.I. Benefits, Financial Aid, & Military/Veteran Student Aid).

Military/Veteran Application Fee

Fisher automatically waives your application fee.

Ohio G.I. Promise

Automatically qualify for in-state tuition.

Message From Admissions

Your service has set you apart. Now let it set you ahead. At the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, we proudly welcome military members and veterans ready to take the next step in their professional journey. The Iowa MBA is designed to help you leverage your drive, discipline, and leadership as you build business expertise and expand your professional network. Along the way, you’ll open doors to new opportunities—all in as little as two years.

Patricia Pothour

Director of Enrollment Management

Top Recruiting Companies

Meet Our Military Alumni

Many military veterans have accelerated their transitions by attending the University of Iowa to earn their MBA.

Click their photos to learn why they decided to pursue an MBA, chose Tippie College of Business, and what they’re doing now!

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA after the military?

After 26 years in the Army, I knew I wanted to transition my leadership and operational experience into a civilian context where I could continue to make an impact. I chose to pursue an MBA because it offered the structured business education I needed to complement my practical experience in strategy, logistics, and organizational leadership. The MBA also provided a path to explore new industries, refine my decision-making toolkit, and prepare for a second career where I could lead with purpose outside of uniform.

What drew you to the Iowa MBA program specifically?

The Iowa MBA stood out to me because of its strong reputation, flexible program structure, and focus on real-world business integration. The faculty’s commitment to student success, paired with a curriculum that emphasizes strategic thinking and leadership development, aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. As a veteran, I also appreciated Iowa’s support for military-affiliated students and the sense of community within the Tippie College of Business.

How do you plan to use your MBA in your career?

I am still working on this part; however, my goal is to step into a leadership role in either operations, project management, or consulting, where I can bridge my military experience with business strategy. I’m especially interested in mission-driven organizations or businesses that value process improvement and team development. Long-term, I’m exploring opportunities in entrepreneurship or advisory roles—possibly helping other veterans or small business owners navigate growth and strategic planning.

How did your military experience benefit your MBA studies?

My military background gave me a strong foundation in leadership, accountability, and problem-solving under pressure—skills that have been directly transferable to the MBA program. Whether it was leading a battalion’s daily operations or coordinating logistics for thousands of personnel, I had to think strategically and execute efficiently. In the classroom, this experience has helped me bring practical lens to case studies, team projects, and simulations. It also helped me support and lead my MBA peers in collaborative settings where communication and adaptability are key.

MBA Grad Year: 2025

Military Service: Army

Undergraduate University: Excelsior University

Jason Nelson

Recent MBA graduate

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA after the military?

I joined the Army right after my undergraduate studies in 2007. I knew that after spending 11 years in the Army, transitioning to private industry would be challenging. I had over a decade of experience in operations, but I was so isolated from private industry that I didn’t know how relevant my experience would be. And I knew there was a lot that I didn’t know. As I transitioned off active duty, I wanted a competitive edge that would both position me well as an applicant and teach me how businesses operate. Studying for and receiving an MBA did both for me.

What drew you to the Iowa MBA program specifically?

The Iowa MBA program was a solid fit for me for a couple of reasons. First, the program was available to me locally. I wanted to network with other students who were already working with local companies. Staying in Iowa was important to me, and I’d hoped that meeting other local professionals would give me insights into the companies I’d like to work with in future. Second, the Iowa MBA program is a nationally recognized program; I knew that Iowa’s program and curriculum would give me the most opportunities going forward.

How do you plan to use your MBA in your career?

I’m still working for the Army, though no longer on active duty. I know I bring a broader perspective to the office after taking courses from Tippie. Long-term, the broad skills taught across finance, accounting, operations, supply chain, leadership, strategy, and analytics will always be a part of my personal portfolio and will see me to a VP or C-Suite position. But until then, my education will continue to be a part of my own competitive advantage.

How did your military experience benefit your MBA studies?

I think that all programs benefit when they include a range of experiences. My military experience was no exception. At Iowa, almost every class I took had a group work component. And within those groups, each person brings their own strengths. One common strength across the veteran community is the ability to plan. Planning, and breaking down large tasks into smaller steps, helped my groups focus how to work on supporting efforts at the same time. Despite my lack of experience in industry, I had more to offer than I realized.

MBA Grad Year: 2020

Military Service: Army

Undergraduate University: Loyola University Chicago