Entrepreneurship Degrees
By earning a degree in entrepreneurship prepares students to open and successfully run their own business. This degree helps potential-business owners start their journey with as much knowledge as possible so that they can succeed. According to the Office of Advocacy and Small Business Data, approximately half of all business established survive beyond five years after they're established. This degree helps potential-business owners start their journey with as much knowledge as possible so that they can succeed. Some who study entrepreneurship do not go on to open their own business but use the various business skills they learn to help other businesses survive as consultants, advisors, managers, and other similar careers.
The Top Bachelor's Degree Programs in Entrepreneurship
| School | Tuition* | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $11465 | 52% | 84% | 57% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $7462 | 43% | 70% | 77% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 3 | Brown University | $58404 | 7% | 96% | 56% | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| 4 | University of St Thomas | $31460 | 87% | 68% | 96% | No | Yes | AP Credits |
| 5 | University of Arizona | $12379 | 85% | 65% | 91% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 6 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | $9028 | 70% | 65% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 7 | Fashion Institute of Technology | $7990 | 54% | 80% | 73% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 8 | Washington State University | $11841 | 76% | 60% | 89% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 9 | University of North Dakota | $9736 | 81% | 61% | 92% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 10 | University of Utah | $8615 | 62% | 70% | 85% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 11 | Bryant University | $45395 | 71% | 81% | 97% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 12 | Binghamton University | $10201 | 41% | 82% | 75% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 13 | University of Houston | $9221 | 65% | 61% | 87% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 14 | Kansas State University | $10800 | 95% | 65% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 15 | South Dakota State University | $9114 | 90% | 56% | 93% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 16 | Rowan University | $14000 | 74% | 73% | 86% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 17 | University of Vermont | $18802 | 67% | 77% | 96% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 18 | University of North Texas | $11044 | 74% | 56% | 82% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 19 | Temple University | $16970 | 60% | 74% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 20 | Marquette University | $43930 | 83% | 82% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 21 | Florida State University | $6517 | 36% | 83% | 97% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 22 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $11962 | 75% | 68% | 96% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 23 | University of Delaware | $14280 | 71% | 81% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 24 | University of Toledo | $10187 | 96% | 50% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 25 | Iowa State University | $9320 | 92% | 74% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 26 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | $12186 | 58% | 61% | 77% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 27 | Oregon Institute of Technology | $10485 | 97% | 46% | 78% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 28 | Clarkson University | $51128 | 75% | 78% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 29 | University of Dayton | $44100 | 72% | 82% | 97% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 30 | Saint Cloud State University | $8656 | 90% | 48% | 94% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 31 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | $8171 | 81% | 45% | 92% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 32 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $13680 | 75% | 62% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 33 | University of Mississippi | $8828 | 88% | 66% | 86% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 34 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $8262 | 77% | 42% | 83% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 35 | Central Michigan University | $12833 | 70% | 61% | 96% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 36 | Drake University | $42840 | 68% | 81% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 37 | West Virginia University | $8976 | 84% | 61% | 94% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 38 | University of Miami | $51930 | 27% | 83% | 74% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 39 | University of Rhode Island | $14566 | 75% | 69% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 40 | Wichita State University | $8299 | 92% | 50% | 89% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 41 | University of San Francisco | $50282 | 64% | 75% | 91% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 42 | Suffolk University | $40104 | 84% | 58% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 43 | Sam Houston State University | $8536 | 83% | 54% | 86% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 44 | Kent State University at Kent | $10602 | 86% | 62% | 96% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 45 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $7588 | 88% | 56% | 97% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 46 | Minot State University | $7592 | 67% | 45% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 47 | Lamar University | $8494 | 84% | 34% | 82% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 48 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $7695 | 79% | 62% | 76% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 49 | Baylor University | $47364 | 45% | 78% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 50 | York College of Pennsylvania | $20885 | 69% | 63% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.
*Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
What Kinds of Entrepreneurship Degrees Are There?
Students can pursue entrepreneurial degrees from the associate's level all the way to the doctoral level. These programs prepare students through first-hand experience, internships, training, and classes that are designed to teach the skills required to run business ventures.
Associate Degrees in Entrepreneurship
While there aren't many associate degrees in entrepreneurship available, there are a few that are offered. These associate degrees are often aimed at those who own or are interested in owning a small business. Students who complete the two-year programs will result in an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Students develop skills that help reduce risk in starting a business, how to run a working business, and build a proactive business plan. An associate degree also prepares students who may not want to open their own business for careers in sales, marketing, store manager, or retail management.
Bachelor's Degrees in Entrepreneurship
There are many different bachelor's degrees in entrepreneurship available. These programs sometimes may be strictly an entrepreneurship degree while others can be a family business and entrepreneurship degrees or small business and entrepreneurship degree. These degrees take, on average, four years to complete and many encourage or require an internship. Entrepreneurial programs, along with teaching students how to successfully run a business, teach students problem-solving skills and many use hands-on learning.
Master's Degrees in Entrepreneurship
There are many master's degree programs in entrepreneurship available. Some master's degree programs are offered specifically for working professionals and others are designed for students right after college. These programs typically take 1-2 years to complete and some do not require the GRE in order to enroll. Students will be taught skills in operations, management, finance, accounting, economics, marketing, and strategy and will further their leadership abilities.
Doctoral Degrees in Entrepreneurship
Doctoral degrees in entrepreneurship are not widely available, but there are a few universities that offer it. These Ph.D. programs are designed for those who wish to go into academia. In these programs, students conduct and publish scholarship research in the field of entrepreneurship and sometimes can have joint research projects with the entrepreneurial faculty. Most doctoral degree programs are small and can be completed in 4-7 years.
Certificates in Entrepreneurship
Graduate certificates in entrepreneurship take under a year to complete and are designed to help students gain an understanding of entrepreneurship and the inner workings of businesses. These certificate programs help to build the leadership skills needed to successfully run or manage a business. Many graduate certificate programs combine innovation and entrepreneurship into one degree.
Entrepreneurship Bachelor's Degree Concentrations
Many schools do not offer concentrations, but those that do typically offer them in small-business, sports fitness, retail industry, and the food and beverage industry. These concentrations often help if a student has a specific career in mind upon graduation.
Curriculum for a Bachelor's Degree in Entrepreneurship
Curriculums for a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship are dependent on the school. Some programs focus more on family business or small business, but most offer a variety of basic courses.
Some of these courses are:
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Corporate Entrepreneurship
- Feasibility Analysis and Business Planning
- Business Financing Decisions
- Social Entrepreneurship
Some schools offer free entrepreneurial courses for those who may be interested in entrepreneurship but may not have the time or means to pursue a full degree.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Bachelor's in Entrepreneurship?
Traditionally it takes four years, or 120 hours, for a full-time student to complete a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship. This includes, at many schools, an internship for school credit. Some may choose to pursue a bachelor's degree as a part-time student. This will result in a student taking longer than four years to complete.
Accreditation for Bachelor's in Entrepreneurship Degrees
Accreditation is extremely important for a university. Accreditation holds a school to qualifying educational standards and can be on a national, regional, or programmable level. Accreditation on the national and regional levels allows for federal financial aid to be used by the student. Employers also prioritize regional and national accreditation over institutions that are not accredited.
The other form of accreditation is program accreditation. In this form, an approved accrediting agency may give the program accreditation. In this way, these agencies hold individual programs to specific quality standards. This form of accreditation can be costly so some institutions may not be accredited by the program for that reason.
In the business world, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is the gold-standard in business school accreditation. The AACSB holds schools to a standard of excellence and is continuously reassessing to make sure that the schools are up to those standards.
Entrepreneurship Licensure & Certification
While there aren't entrepreneurship specific licenses or certificates necessary for a career in entrepreneurship, if a person plans to open a business with their degree, there are many licenses to consider depending on the type of business they open.
Here is a list of some business activities that need licenses:
- Agriculture
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
- Commercial fisheries
- Maritime transportation
- Nuclear energy
- Radio and television broadcasting
- Alcoholic beverages
- Aviation
- Transportation and logistics
The permits or licenses needed for a business depend on the state, country, and business location.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Entrepreneurship?
Many people with a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship go on to open their own business either on their own or as part of their team. However, there are many other careers out there for entrepreneurship majors. These possible career paths include sales, middle management, research and development, recruiters, or business consultants.
How to Become a Recruitment Specialist
As an entrepreneurship major, students are taught how to properly identify talent in order to positively impact the company they work for. Many recruitment jobs require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or entrepreneurship. In order to become a recruitment specialist, a person can begin their career as an entry-level recruiter job before working their way up to a recruitment specialist or manager. Recruitment specialists often travel extensively to go to job fairs, colleges, and to meet with prospective applicants. Recruitment specialists fall under the human resource specialists category in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the BLS in 2019, HR specialists made, on average, $61,920. The field is projected to grow by 7% by 2029.
How to Become a Business Consultant
Many people who study entrepreneurship go on to become business consultants. These consultants are highly respected for their opinions and advice in specific industries. Many business consultants have their MBA as MBAs provide a higher level of skills and experience or have direct experience in the industry. There are many different types of business consultants including marketing consultants, sustainability consultants, human resource consultants, financial consultants, operations consultants, and strategy consultants. According to payscale, the average business consultant makes $74,452 per year.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Information for Bachelor's in Entrepreneurship Degrees
Every year, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive financial aid. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible in order to maximize their aid. Aid can come from a variety of different places including federal, state, school, and private sources to help pay for schooling. Once the students accept their financial aid, the school will apply the aid to their account. Any remaining aid will be sent to the student to cover any remaining school bills.
There are a few different types of aid. Grants and scholarships are both forms of aid that do not need to be repaid. Grants are awarded based on financial need while scholarships are most commonly awarded by schools or private institutions based on a variety of different components. Work-study programs are in place for students to be able to work part-time while attending school. Loans are borrowed money that students must pay back along with any interest that accrues.
How to Choose an Entrepreneurship School & Bachelor's Program
Choosing a college is hard. There are many things that a person has to consider when looking at different colleges and universities. Here are a few things to think about that might help when choosing entrepreneurship schools:
Is the school affordable? If this is something that weighs heavily on a person, they should wait until they receive the financial aid package from each school.
Does the school offer the concentrations or classes that the student wants to take? For entrepreneurship, many people want to open their own business with their degree, so seeing if the school has classes relating to the business. For example, some programs offer a small-business concentration. If a person's future business is a small business, this could be extremely beneficial for them.
Professional Organizations in Entrepreneurship
There are many different professional organizations for entrepreneurs. These organizations are designed to provide networking and educational opportunities. There also may be smaller, local organizations that can help businesses on a more local level.
Here are a few national organizations in entrepreneurship:
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) - NAWBO is a dues-based organization that represents the interests of female entrepreneurs. They have different chapters across the country.
- United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USABE) -The USABE build on advancing entrepreneurship education through teaching, scholarship and practice.
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) - The NFIB operates as a voice for small business owners throughout the United States. They have members in every industry and sector across the nation.
- National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) - The NASE is one of the leading resources for the self-employed or micro-businesses. They provide benefits that are typically available only to larger organizations.
