FROM THE DESERTS OF IRAQ TO THE MBA CLASSROOM

U.S. B-schools are looking for a few good men--and women. Dozens of MBA programs have signed up for the Yellow Ribbon program, an initiative created by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, reports BusinessWeek's Alison Damast. Under Yellow Ribbon, which took effect this fall, Washington commits to pay vets a base level of tuition, plus match any financial aid offered by participating schools--and throw in stipends for housing, books, and supplies.

B-schools in particular are hoping the new program will help them draw more veterans, who by some estimates now make up a scant 4% of the MBA population. Among the schools that have signed up are marquee names such as Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton. Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business is committing $19,233 per student, which along with the federal money covers all of the annual $47,835 tuition.

The Veterans Benefits Administration is still compiling data from all colleges and grad schools on how many veterans have enrolled. But the agency is anticipating a groundswell of interest and forecasts that some 440,000 vets will take advantage of the revamped GI Bill.

See "Why Veterans Are Saluting Business Schools" businessweek.com/magazine