Olin doubles veteran MBA enrollment

Washington University in St. Louis doubled its enrollment of veteran MBA students to 80 over the past four years. The increase coincides with a policy that allows most of these students to attend tuition-free. They combine U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon benefits with Olin Business School scholarship funds. This financial structure removes the cost barrier for military professionals seeking graduate business education.

Seth Kirchhoff has served as the associate director of admissions and military veteran liaison since 2022. As a U.S. Army veteran, he recruits peers through professional networks. He tells prospective students that those with the GI Bill will not pay out-of-pocket if admitted. Kirchhoff notes that employers such as Boeing and Mastercard report that Olin graduates contribute value immediately upon hiring. The school also launched the Olin Veterans Association to connect current students and alumni. Recent activities include a 5K run on campus and a formal military ball. These events integrate military traditions with university culture to foster a sense of belonging.

Brian Fromal illustrates the career transition. He served 14 years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and spoke four languages. Before enrolling, he felt limited by his lack of formal business training during high-level planning meetings. He described the need to immerse himself in business concepts like a new language. Fromal is currently in his second year of the executive MBA program. He moved to St. Louis in 2024 when his wife, a retina specialist, took a job in the city. The family had lived abroad, including in Ukraine, prior to this move.

Fromal recently co-founded OODA, a development company, with a fellow student and local entrepreneur. The name references the military decision-making process of observe, orient, decide, and act. The company focuses on rebuilding the Fountain Park neighborhood, which suffered severe damage from a tornado in 2025. The current project involves adding new single-family and multifamily homes. Fromal aims to create a permanent home in St. Louis for his family. He believes the neighborhood offers potential for current and future residents. The Olin Veterans Association continues to grow as a support network for these students.

Mike Mazzeo, the Judy and Jerry Kent Dean and Knight Family Professor at Olin Business School, supports the initiative. He states that veteran students bring leadership experience and intentionality to the classroom. Mazzeo believes the school and the region benefit from their presence. The program structure ensures that veterans receive the resources needed to transition into the workforce. The expansion of the veteran population at Olin reflects a targeted effort to recruit and retain military professionals in graduate business education.