What are the best Online MBAs for US veterans?

An MBA can do a lot of things for your career, but one of the most valuable benefits of the degree is how it can allow you to pursue new directions. More than 40 percent of applicants intend to change job function or occupation aftertheir MBA—and an increasing number of those are veterans. Between 2023 and 2026, the share of veteran applicants to MBA programs grew by 31 percent, according to our Application Trends Survey.

With more and more veterans applying for MBAs, business schools are increasingly adapting their programs to meet this growing demand. With that in mind, here are 10 of the best Online MBAs for US veterans, according to the 2026 US News & World Report Online MBA Ranking.

1. Indiana University Kelley School of Business 

The Online MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is commonly regarded as one of the leading programs in the US, ranked number one by US News & World Report, QS, and The Princeton Review. It’s also considered the best Online MBA in the US for veterans by US News.

Kelley has a dedicated Veterans Club where military students can meet, support each other, and grow professionally. The school waives the application fee for veterans and also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers some or all of the cost of tuition for eligible military students.

Around 11 percent of students on the Kelley Online MBA are military veterans.

2. University of Washington (Foster)

Sitting at number two in the US News Online MBA ranking for veterans, the hybrid program at Washington Foster combines the flexibility of online learning with the collaboration of the classroom.

You’ll learn alongside experienced business professionals, around 20 percent of whom are military veterans. And it’s easy to see why the program is so popular among this cohort. Ninety-one percent of Foster grads change roles within two years of completing the program, while the Seattle area has six major military installations, 100,000+ active-duty personnel, and 525,000+ veterans and retirees among its population, meaning extensive career opportunities for veterans.

The school also has a dedicated Veterans Education Benefits Office, which guides applicants through ty extensive financial aid opportunities. This can make the Foster Hybrid MBA both affordable and career-changing for ex-service personnel.

3. University of Florida (Warrington)

With a dedicated Office of Student Veteran Services, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, and possible tuition fee discounts via the Yellow Ribbon Program, it’s easy to see why the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business is ranked third in the US for Online MBA programs for veterans.

Military veterans also benefit from a range of other incentives at Warrington, including a flexible learning model, dedicated career support, and military evaluations accepted in place of recommendation letters. They make up 16 percent of the Online MBA cohort.

It’s also one of the more affordable MBAs in this list, with tuition fees for the one-year program coming in at $49,255 before any military-related discounts.

4. University of Arizona (Eller)

The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management is very popular among veterans. They make up around 13 percent of the school’s entire student body, no doubt attracted by application fee refunds and a dedicated Veteran Alliance program, which trains faculty and staff to become part of a support network for military-connected students.

The university is also a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program, whereby the school contributes up to 50 percent of expenses not met by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You can complete the program in as little as 14 months, but for maximum flexibility, you can also take as long as four years to graduate.

5. University of Kansas

One of the most affordable Online MBAs in this list, the program at the University of Kansas costs less than $40,000 in tuition. However, it doesn’t sacrifice quality for affordability: it is AACSB-accredited and ranked by US News as the fifth-best Online MBA for veterans in the US.

The school’s Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center guides veterans through the entire application process, from putting the paperwork together to making the most of the various military financial aid opportunities.

There are also a range of clubs, networks, and support centers specifically for veterans, ensuring the transition from military to MBA is a smooth one.

6. Arizona State University (W.P. Carey)

The Online MBA at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business is a regular fixture in the US News Online MBA ranking, finishing in the top 10 for 15 consecutive years. Yet the program is even more highly regarded for veterans, who make up 18 percent of the business school’s entire student body.

They are exempt from paying the application fee and able to claim a considerable discount on tuition via the Yellow Ribbon program, but the benefits for veterans at Carey go even further. The Spouse of Military Veteran Tuition Scholarship covers tuition and fees for undergraduate students married to an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces.

Veterans can navigate the various benefits available to them through Carey’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center, which provides specialized support to ex-service members thinking of applying for an MBA.

7, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business is a highly regarded institution, with its full-time MBA ranking in the top 20 nationally in both the US News and QS MBA rankings. Its online hybrid program fares even better, ranked second in the US by US News and seventh globally by the Financial Times. 

The program also excels when it comes to veterans. It was built to help manage the transition to a business career, offering a data-informed curriculum and robust support systems for former military personnel. These include the Tepper Veterans Association, which provides help for those making the transition from those who already have. Accordingly, veterans make up around 14 percent of the Online MBA cohort at Tepper.

Though military veterans applying to Tepper are eligible for a range of scholarships, the school also has a fellowship specifically for them. The Tepper BELL Veterans Fellowship provides support to master’s students enrolled in the school who are veterans of the US Armed Forces.

8. Oklahoma State University (Spears)

The Online MBA at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business may be one of the best Online MBAs for US veterans, but that doesn’t mean it’s prohibitively expensive. With total tuition coming in at just $18,315 for out-of-state residents, it’s not just one of the cheapest Online MBAs for veterans—it’s one of the cheapest Online MBAs, period.

Spears is also a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which means eligible veterans can get an additional tuition discount. 

With a flexible curriculum that can be completed within two and a half to three years, veteran applicants will have plenty of time to adjust to the demands of the program.

9. The University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)

Just under 10 percent of the entire student body at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management are veterans or active service members. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that the school has such a strong reputation as a destination for this cohort.

The Military and Veteran Center provides help, support, and resources for ex-service personnel studying at Jindal. It’s also responsible for certifying Veterans Affairs benefits, as well as administering the Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption, and processing waivers and exemptions for veterans.

Students can complete the program in anywhere from 21 to 72 months, offering a level of flexibility that is likely to appeal to career-changing veterans.

10. University of Michigan Ross School of Business

Michigan Ross is one of the best business schools not just in the US, but globally. And its Online MBA is just as highly regarded, as well as ranking in the top 10 best Online MBAs for US veterans, according to US News.

Alongside the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, military applicants also have the non-refundable $200 application fee waived and are eligible for in-state tuition status. That saves veterans around an additional $10,000 on the usual $134,000 tuition.

The financial incentives on offer partly explain why this is a popular program for veterans, who make up 20 percent of the online cohort. But, in truth, a world-class program like this will always be a popular choice for veterans looking to make their next career move.