Military experience is a plus at the Kelley School of Business. Veterans in the Full-Time MBA Program will find resources at Kelley and Indiana University to help them navigate their educational benefits and transition to higher education and civilian life.
Veterans comprised more than 5% of the most recent graduating class, whose members received a median starting salary of $119,000. The Kelley MBA provides an outstanding return on investment for military veterans, and provides support throughout the program with the Veterans Club, clubs for partners and kids, and Indiana University Veteran and Military Services.
Current Kelley MBA Trace Hanson, a former Marine, is majoring in management and business analytics. He is also the president of the Veterans Club.
“A focal point of mine as a transitioning veteran was to develop a foundation in business acumen as quickly and effectively as possible. Kelley’s Integrated Core has a phenomenal reputation as being challenging and providing exposure to essentially all aspects of business within your first semester. Additionally, the alumni network is known as one of the most involved in the country and remains heavily involved with the school. Any alum is more than willing to take a call and sincerely help with whatever students need,” Trace said.
Kelley’s supportive environment is designed to help veterans thrive.
“The level of support and opportunity provided by the Veterans Club on arrival was certainly needed and we plan to continuously improve moving forward,” Trace said. “Additionally, the industry-focused Academies here at Kelley provide an extremely rare real-world experience opportunity that is difficult to find. My transition from class to the summer internship would have been much more challenging if it weren’t for the Consulting Academy.”
Trace, like many other veterans, has found a path to a rewarding career as well as a collaborative community and global network of business alumni (more than 122,000 living alumni).
“My favorite thing is without a doubt the collaborative culture that Kelley has become renowned for,” he said. “I have been able to enjoy the process throughout due to the close-knit community my classmates have created. We are all very much a team here and focus on succeeding together. I know that wherever my career journey takes me, the friends and colleagues I met at Kelley will be there to share in the process.”
Trace’s time in the Marine Corps and at Kelley have prepared him for the challenges and changes ahead. And the close-knit community he’s met along the way will be a vital resource for his next chapter.
