Is entrepreneurship a good major for college? 

Key takeaways

• Entrepreneurship is a relatively new field as compared to business administration degrees. 
• People wondering is entrepreneurship a good major should find promising growth rates and career opportunities. 
• BLS reports suggest a faster-than-average job growth for entrepreneurship roles.
• An entrepreneurship major equips students with core interdisciplinary skills such as business management and marketing. 
• Entrepreneurship programs cover business strategy, financial management, innovation, and leadership.
• Unlike other business degrees, entrepreneurship majors are interdisciplinary, and comprehensive, and focus on business ownership more than finding a job.
• A typical bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is for 4 years.
• Students gain a broad variety of skills such as strategy management, business management, financial management, and so on.
• There are several unique specializations within entrepreneurship majors including social entrepreneurship and global trade.
• Alternatives to entrepreneurship majors include a degree in business administration, communication, and marketing degree.

Many people believe that entrepreneurship is all about starting new businesses. However, it is much more diverse than that. In particular, entrepreneurship is about innovation, leadership, risk management, and strategic thinking. As we see the world evolving around us rapidly, it is news that entrepreneurship is a rapidly growing field that welcomes many new and innovative minds.

So, as the business landscape is shifting from 9 to 5 jobs to business ownership, you may find yourself wondering “is entrepreneurship a good major?”. Or, if you explore the top entrepreneurship colleges in the USA, you may question if an entrepreneurship major worth it? To help you with your college planning and see if you are fit for a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship, we answer these head-scratching questions in great detail. 

This article is all about evaluating the outcomes and rewards of pursuing a college degree in entrepreneurship. We look at the details of an entrepreneurship degree, what it entails, what you will learn, and how it compares to alternative business degrees. 

What will you study in an entrepreneurship major in college?

Before you begin to decide whether a degree in entrepreneurship is the right choice, there are some things you must fully understand. An entrepreneurship major in college is rich with numerous opportunities and skill development. It is the epitome of professional and personal growth, and opens gates to many amazing career paths. However, some notable things about an entrepreneurship majors in college include:

• It is typically a 4-year bachelor’s degree.
• It requires every student to select a specialization.
• It is a relatively new college major as compared to other business subjects. 
• Coursework is typically more focused on running and owning a business more than working a job.
• You will find several options for continuing an entrepreneurship degree at a higher level like master’s.

So, now that you know what to expect from an entrepreneurship major in college, it’s time to assess and evaluate the possible learning outcomes. However, keep in mind that different colleges and programs have different objectives. Therefore, it is vital that the program you select aligns with your particular career goals and professional path. 

Here is what a 4-year college major in entrepreneurship will offer:

Interdisciplinary coursework

Firstly, an entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree is a very detailed and comprehensive perspective on business management. Unlike specific business degrees such as a bachelor’s in economics, an entrepreneurship degree is highly interdisciplinary. This is because the coursework aims to cover numerous aspects of managing and establishing a business. Therefore, a typical entrepreneurship program covers many disciplines such as human resource management, marketing, financial management, and even operations. 

Furthermore, the degree draws knowledge from all aspects and disciplines. So, within an entrepreneurship program, you may be learning about consumer behavior and market research, while also learning about how macroeconomics affects different types of businesses. 

As a result, the interdisciplinary nature of the entrepreneurship majors makes it stand out from the rest. It is unique,and  fresh, and allows students to learn in-depth about various things all at once. In addition to this, some of the most common courses included in an entrepreneurship majors include the following:

• Introduction to entrepreneurship
• Accounting and finance
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing research
• Research methods
• Risk management
• Risk analysis
• Opportunity recognition
• Idea generation
• Branding
• Business strategy
• Product development
• Team management
• Legal issues and ethics in entrepreneurship

Unique and high-value specializations

Within every bachelor’s program, there are some specialization or concentration areas. These are the key to narrowing down your focus on your professional goals. Specializations offer you particular education and exposure to certain aspects of the entire industry. However, there are core courses and foundational coursework that every student must complete regardless of which specialization they choose. 

The following table lists the most popular entrepreneurship specializations and what each entails:

Social entrepreneurship	Focuses on driving solution-focused businesses that tend to cater to a specific social or environmental problem Excellent for innovative and socially aware people Wide range of types of organizations, including nonprofit and for-profit Key topics covered include corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and nonprofit management
Small business management	Focuses on operating and running small-scale businesses, typically for local markets Best for business-minded people with limited funds for new business setup Key topics covered include financial planning, business planning, operations management, marketing, and so on
Technology entrepreneurship	Focuses on advanced and new technological advancements in the business world. Aims to enable students to start tech-based startups Highly competitive market with the highest growth potential Key topics covered include product development, prototyping, coding, and software innovation
International business and global markets	Focuses on the globalization, cross-border, and cross-cultural business world Best for students with a keen interest in politics, socio-economic, and global trade Key topics covered include trade laws, global marketing, and macroeconomics
E-commerce	Focuses on digital business models, e-commerce, and online retail Best for students who want to create online businesses such as e-commerce stores, subscription services, or digital agencies Key topics covered include web development, store management, and digital marketing
Corporate entrepreneurship	Also called intrapreneurship. Focuses on corporate strategy, managing established businesses, and fostering organizational leadership. Best for students who want to innovate within large corporations rather than start their own businesses Key topics covered include strategy management, innovation, organizational development, and so on.

Skills and competencies

The most attractive part about pursuing a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is the skills and competencies you end up developing. So, if you are wondering is entrepreneurship a good major, you will be pleased with the variety of skills it offers. All bachelor programs in entrepreneurship aim to foster key skills in their students. Therefore, you will graduate with lots of theoretical knowledge, practical and hands-on experience, and a broad range of skills. 

Moreover, since an entrepreneurship major is interdisciplinary, there are different categories of the skills you develop. These include the following:

Business and management skills

• Creating and executing business strategies
• Budgeting and financial literacy
• Marketing, branding, and sales skills
• Efficient and effective operations management 

Innovation skills

• Identifying market gaps and conducting research
• Creating and innovating new products/services
• Assessing and managing risks
• Exploring growth strategies for scaling businesses

Leadership and communication skills

• Critical thinking and decision-making
• Negotiating and pursuing tough audiences
• Networking and building a PR
• Managing and inspiring a team

Digital skills

• Proficiency in using digital business solutions
• Understanding of online retail and business platforms
• Data analytics and evaluation
• Developing awareness for cyber security 

Personal development 

• Resilience and overcoming challenges
• Becoming an inspiring leader
• Building adaptability and agility
• Self-motivation and innovation 

What can you do with an entrepreneurship major?

Considering the aforementioned list of skills you develop with a degree in entrepreneurship, it is no surprise that there are diverse career paths for entrepreneurship graduates. So, the question is entrepreneurship a good major can be answered by the excellent career opportunities. Therefore, if you are someone who is always looking for something new to try, then a career in entrepreneurship is the right choice. 

For many people, entrepreneurship is not a career choice. However, we look over the career opportunities and pathways with an entrepreneurship degree in detail in this guide. You should give it a read to see what career prospects you may expect after graduating. 

Furthermore, there are numerous reports and surveys that suggest a growth in the entrepreneurship industry. For example, BLS reports suggest that entrepreneurial roles and related jobs have a growth rate faster than those of the average occupations. Moreover, it considers entrepreneurship as one of the biggest contributors to the entire U.S. economy’s growth. 

Most importantly, entrepreneurship graduates are not restricted to only starting their own business. Instead, there are hundreds of other business roles they can take up and excel in those fields. 

So, to help you evaluate and to answer whether is entrepreneurship a good major, here is what you can do with it: 

Become a business consultant

You can choose to work on a contractual basis or find permanent employment as a business consultant. As a consultant, you will be assisting established businesses in their management and growth strategies. 

Start your own business

The most obvious career outcome for entrepreneurship majors is starting your own business. So, if you have a business idea, you can launch a startup or create your own small business.

Become a business reporter

Thirdly, you can also explore the profession of business reporter or analyst. This field is ebay for those having some years of prior experience. You can also do this part time. 

Work for big corporations 

Many corporations seek employees with an entrepreneurial mindset to lead innovation, business development, and management roles.

Find work as a marketing manager

An entrepreneurship degree is going to expose you to many skills and knowledge including marketing and sales. Use this learning experience to work in digital marketing, advertising, and PR.

Other job roles for entrepreneurship graduates

In addition to these more common and obvious job roles, you can also explore the following:

• Financial Analyst – Manage investments, budgeting, and business growth strategies.
• Operations Manager – Oversee business processes, supply chain management, and logistics.
• Human Resources Manager – Develop strong teams and company cultures.
• Venture Capitalist – Invest in startups and guide new entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship major VS business majors 

Moving on, we must not forget to highlight that entrepreneurship is not the only option for business-minded people. In fact, business and its related subjects are some of the most common college majors chosen by a variety of young and adult students. So, people who have a business acumen, or wish to build one, can explore a number of options. 

Therefore, in deciding whether entrepreneurship is a worthy major, you must also thoroughly compare it with other alternatives. So, we have made things easier for you by providing you a detailed comparison on a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications, and entrepreneurship. 

Program name	Key topics covered	Common specializations	Best for
Business administration or BBA	Financial management, market analysis and research, strategy management, leadership, administration, operations management	Economics Marketing Human Resource Management Supply Chain Finance International Business	Students seeking a broad understanding of business and management. Students who are not quite sure about their career path should opt for a BBA
Business communications	Business writing, professional speaking, organizational communication, leadership, negotiations	Public relations or PR Corporate Communication Digital Media Media and Publications	Best for extroverted individuals with a keen interest in public speaking and leadership roles
Marketing	Marketing mix, market research, consumer behavior, marketing strategies, pricing strategies	Social media marketing Product management Content marketing Public relations Advertising	Students with creativity and innovation should opt. People passionate about branding and advertising will be best fit
Entrepreneurship	Business management, strategy, innovation, start-up culture, and investment management	Social entrepreneurship Corporate entrepreneurship Small business management International business	People aiming to start their own businesses, having already established businesses, or seeking managerial roles should opt

Final Verdict — Is entrepreneurship a good major? 

Finally, we now come to decide and answer the question “is entrepreneurship a good major?”. Based on the information and details we have regarding entrepreneurship as a college major, we can conclude that there is an excellent scope for all graduates. Firstly, a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is offered by top colleges in the USA. Therefore, there are many options. 

Secondly, there are multiple specializations within entrepreneurship majors, so you will not find it difficult to make your career more laser-focused and specific. In addition to this, entrepreneurship employment prospects are unique and diverse. So, you can not only start your own business, but also find work as a marketing manager, business consultant, and financial advisor. To conclude, it is fair to say that entrepreneurship is a worthy major if you opt for the right college for it.