Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
N A U military sit in the stands during a football game.
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Military and veterans

A home for veterans

For those who have served our country, finding a new career as a citizen can be hard. That’s why Franke is the only business college in the nation with its own veteran center. Our FCB Veteran Student Center is dedicated to the recruitment, transition, retention, and career development of veterans who attend our business school so that their next chapter is as seamless and rewarding as possible. We’re proud to be ranked 10th in the nation in Military Times’ Best for Vets: Business Schools 2016, and we’re even more proud to work closely with service members.

An NAU-wide initiative

Our university is committed to creating a campus culture that is welcoming, supportive, and inclusive of all veterans and military-affiliated members and their families. Learn more about additional services offered through NAU.

Veteran voices

Hear from Franke vets about their experience.

Click here for more information!

Veteran Student Center programs and assistance

A military officer sits and smiles in a helicopter.

How the Veteran Student Center can help

The FCB Veteran Student Center provides targeted programs, individual academic and career development assistance, and resource navigation for veteran students seeking a business credential, including:

  • assistance with the transition from military life to student life
  • military-friendly degree programs and classroom environment
  • student veteran advocacy
  • advising for VA educational benefits, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities
  • tailored academic advising
  • tutoring and peer mentoring
  • career development, executive job shadowing, and networking opportunities
  • entrepreneurial guidance
  • social connectedness
  • free Student Veteran of America (SVA) membership
  • liaison for all campus programs and services in one centralized location
  • one-on-one support in a comfortable, welcoming environment
  • a commitment to continuous improvement for ever-changing student veteran needs through data-driven results.

Veteran Success Center

The 1600-square-foot Veteran Success Center, located at the Student Union, is your first stop for information regarding your experience at NAU as a military or veteran student. Our representatives are available to assist military-affiliated students with the transition into university life. 

Military affiliated students presenting flags in traditional military attire at a veterans' convocation event.

The Veteran Center is a great place to find support and interact with fellow military students. Franke also has its own Veteran Student Center for service members attending business school—the only one of its kind in the nation.

Veteran Success Center
Veteran Student Center
An N A U veteran graduates and holds his arm up in victory.

Military Times Recognition

Our commitment to returning service members has been recognized for 2023 again! The W. A. Franke College of Business has been recognized by Military Times as 3rd in the state of Arizona. This is the eleventh year in a row that FCB has been recognized. Details about the designation can be found in our blog feed.

Blog feed
N A U students and faculty at a meeting in the veterans center.

Admissions assistance

The NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies application fee is waived for military personnel applying to the MBA or the Business Foundations Graduate Certificate programs. Please contact us directly for assistance with the waiver. We also understand that the admissions process can be tough to navigate. Please refer to our admissions checklist.

Admissions checklist

MBA Veteran & Military Leadership Program

The W. A. Franke College of Business recognizes the importance of graduate education and the impact it can have on an individual’s career path. We also recognize and give gratitude to the US Military service men and women who have made great sacrifices to preserve our freedom. The MBA Veteran & Military Leadership Program has been established in coordination with the FCB Veteran Student Center to assist veterans and active duty service members in their pursuit of graduate education.

An applicant must be a veteran or active duty service member of the US Armed Forces and have completed the application process for the NAU MBA program. The award consists of the following:

  • fully funded executive job shadow experience
  • executive mentor assigned to the recipient for the fall and spring semesters of the MBA program
  • fellowship award

Please contact Shelby Waite at the MBA office or Zach Hamilton at the Veteran Student Center for details.

Military Friendly School designation

Again! The W. A. Franke College of Business and the MBA program are proud to be designated as Military Friendly for the fourth year. Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Northern Arizona University and The W. A. Franke College of Business MBA program to the coveted Military Friendly Schools® list. The 2016 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2016 list of Military Friendly Schools® shows Northern Arizona University and The W. A. Franke College of Business’ commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students. The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”
– Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran