Vanderbilt Owen: An MBA Guide for Veterans

Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management is known for being generous to veterans financially and for one of the most active veteran communities among top programs. This profile was shared directly by Owen's admissions team to help veterans considering business school understand what the experience really looks like.

"Come to Owen. Vanderbilt is good to veterans financially, and the veteran community here is among the strongest in the Top 20 in terms of involvement, mentorship, and camaraderie."

Which military backgrounds thrive

Owen enrolls a mix of all services, ranks, military occupational specialties, and deployment profiles. No single background thrives more than another. Any military background that involved intellectual work in a fast-paced environment tends to translate well to Owen's academic setting.

Your first six months

Veterans who relocated with family often describe treating the move to Nashville like any other military move. The team recommends arriving two to three weeks before classes start to get settled, acquire a Tennessee driver's license and plates, and handle other logistics. Veterans with families suggest renting for at least the first year to get a better sense of the neighborhood and the commute to school.

The Armed Forces Club and the broader veteran community are valuable here, since speaking with current students helps incoming veterans use every resource available during the relocation. If a spouse is looking for a new job, veterans report that Nashville has strong opportunities, especially in healthcare given its large presence in the city. By month six, veterans with families report feeling comfortable and settled.

Key resources for veterans

Owen's Armed Forces Club (AFC) supports military candidates from start to finish. The AFC is the largest veteran organization at Vanderbilt, entirely student-led and student-supported. Because the veteran community is used to a job handover every year or two, the AFC has become a repository for years of Owen knowledge that gets passed down to each incoming class.

In addition, Vanderbilt's Bass Military Scholars Program, led by General Scott Brower, provides a strong community for veterans pursuing graduate and professional degrees. Bass Scholars receive $30,000 per year on top of existing military benefits, and that amount goes directly to the veteran and their family rather than to tuition. Learn more about the Bass Military Scholars Program.

Where veteran alumni land

Owen does not separate where veterans land compared to other students, but the top industries are consulting, financial services, and healthcare, the last of which reflects Nashville's strength as a healthcare hub. You can review the full Vanderbilt MBA 2025 Employment Report for detailed outcomes.

Geographic reach

The Southeast is the biggest region for Owen graduates. Detailed placement data is available in the 2025 Employment Report.

Financial planning and funding

Owen participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which meets up to 50% of unmet need after the GI Bill. The Bass Military Scholars program adds $30,000 per year for selected veterans. Vanderbilt also has a VASCO office to help veterans with financial planning.

Traditions and community

Much of the veteran experience at Owen is shaped by informal mentorship and support within the AFC. As one recent AFC president put it: "I have never met a group of people more willing to help each other, whether academically, personally, or professionally. I have benefited enormously from the experiences of my second years and the second years before them, and it is a great comfort to have people around who actually understand my background, a rarity in the civilian world."

Connect with the program

• Program: Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University
• Bass Military Scholars Program: program details
• 2025 Employment Report: view the report
• Military recruiting contact: Ellie Toth, Assistant Director, MBA Admissions and Recruiting