Key takeaways
- Finding the best colleges for entrepreneurship in the US can be challenging as there are several excellent options.
- When choosing an entrepreneurship program keep in mind the difference between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science undergraduate program.
- Associate degrees in entrepreneurship from a community college are also an option for those who don’t want to commit to a four-year bachelor’s program.
- Social entrepreneurship, family business management, franchising, and technology in entrepreneurship are some of the available specializations in the entrepreneurial field.
- The Metropolitan University of Denver, State University of New York at New Paltz, and The University of Arizona are some of the best colleges for entrepreneurship in the US
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Michigan Flint offer amazing online entrepreneurship degree programs.
- Before selecting a college, look at the admission requirements, acceptance rate, faculty achievements, and graduation requirements before filling out an application.
Aspiring entrepreneurs, passionate about embarking on their entrepreneurial journey will benefit greatly from a formal education. Some of the best colleges for entrepreneurship across the US, offer students a variety of programs they can enroll in.
Ideally, students start at the undergraduate level, where they study how to launch, grow, and scale a business. During the four-year entrepreneurship programs, students develop a sound understanding of all aspects of business operations.
In this article, we list our suggestions for the best entrepreneurship colleges in the US, provide in-depth information on the entrepreneurship program, and discuss how to find the best colleges for entrepreneurship for you.
List of the best colleges for entrepreneurship in the US
An undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship from the best entrepreneurship colleges in the US is a stepping stone in the right direction. It is especially ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs but is also an excellent option for students hoping to obtain high-paying corporate jobs in the corporate world.
For a successful career, choosing the right college is absolutely essential. When selecting a college, make sure to keep in mind the college ranking, degree requirements, admission requirements, faculty, and mode of delivery.
Additionally, students must look into acceptance rates, location, and tuition fees to determine program feasibility. The judgment criteria will vary by student. Thus, we provide a general overview of some of the best colleges for entrepreneurship in the US to help students shortlist potential colleges.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
The Metropolitan State University of Denver offers a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurship program focuses on promoting self-reliability in students. They are encouraged to take charge of their entrepreneurial journey and provide feedback and guidance where necessary.
With a strong focus on practical learning through internships, case studies, and collaborative and individual projects, the entrepreneurship program trains students to be industry leaders. Moreover, students are provided resources and opportunities to pitch their business ideas and take them forward.
Graduates of the Metropolitan State University of Denver’s entrepreneurship program have successfully launched business ventures in food, healthcare, chocolate, transport, and many other industries.
| Location | Acceptance rate | Minimum GPA | Tuition |
| Denver, Colorado | 97.9% | 2.75 | $10,260/yr in-state
$28,092/yr out-of-state |
University of North Carolina Greensboro
The University of North Carolina Greensboro offers a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship that students can take both online and on-campus. The university offers the largest entrepreneurship program in North Carolina. Students can pursue entrepreneurship as a major or as a minor in a business program as well.
Here, you can learn entrepreneurship from award-winning faculty. The University of North Carolina Greensboro has winners of the NC Board of Governor’s Awards as teachers. Learning from industry experts enhances the chances of success amongst students as is reflected in the success of entrepreneurship graduates from the University of North Carolina.
Graduates of the online entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree enjoy success in the entrepreneurial field. Some have successful business ventures in the clothing industry, musical instrument production, food industry, industrial services, and more. Others are employed at top companies including Google and Volvo.
| Location | Acceptance rate | Minimum GPA | Tuition |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | 92% | 3.63 | $7,660/yr in-state
$24,001/yr out-of-state |
State University of New York at New Paltz
The State University of New York at New Paltz is one of the best business schools for entrepreneurship in the US. The four-year program is taken on-campus and focuses on equipping the entrepreneurs of tomorrow with essential skills.
A key focus of the program is to teach entrepreneurship students how to thrive in the ever-evolving globalized market. Students can expect to learn about the social, political, cultural, and environmental aspects that can impact new business enterprises.
It is one of the best business schools for entrepreneurship for students looking for an affordable option. SUNY at New Paltz provides high-quality education for students from all social and economic backgrounds.
Here, you can expect to engage with students from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. If you are looking for diverse entrepreneurship programs
| Location | Acceptance rate | Minimum GPA | Tuition |
| New Paltz, New York | 58.3% | 3.0 | $8,524/yr in-state
$18,434/yr out-of-state |
University of Michigan – Flint
The University of Michigan, Flint offers a bachelor’s in business administration (BBA) with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation management. The online business entrepreneurship program is ideal for students looking for academic programs to hone their leadership and management skills.
Students can choose the accelerated learning program where terms last only seven weeks. However, additional terms and conditions apply. Though the entire course is available online and is designed to offer flexibility to working adults, students must complete a mandatory internship in person.
The detailed exposure students gain from the BBA in entrepreneurship prepares them for a successful entrepreneurial journey. Students can also benefit from available career opportunities for entrepreneurship graduates in innovative organizations in the public and private sectors.
| Location | Acceptance rate | Minimum GPA | Tuition |
| Flint, Michigan | 66.4% | 3.0 | $13,242/yr in-state
$25,506/yr out-of-state |
The University of Arizona
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona is another great program. It combines the best of both business and entrepreneurship degree programs.
Students gain an in-depth understanding of essential business operations including financial management, cash flow management, accounts, marketing, and more. Additionally, they also learn essential entrepreneurial skills such as data analytics, creating a business plan, new venture creation, securing entrepreneurial finance, and more.
Graduates are free to explore a variety of career opportunities in the entrepreneurial field. They can either opt for formal employment in management, consultancy, or advisory positions or take the risk and start their own business.
Regardless of their choice, the University of Arizona provides students with the tools needed to succeed in their professional careers.
| Location | Acceptance rate | Minimum GPA | Tuition |
| Tucson, Arizona | 86.8% | 3.53 | $13,275/yr in-state
$39,577/yr out-of-state |
What do I need to know about the entrepreneurship program?
Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive field of study, including nearly all business disciplines. However, it is not the same as a business degree. Whether a business or an entrepreneurship degree is right for you or not is for you to decide.
The key difference between the two is that the entrepreneurship program is tailored to specifically meet the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs. With courses such as ‘Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset’, ‘New Venture Creation’, ‘Entrepreneurial Finance’, and so on, it caters to those hoping to start their own business.
Since entrepreneurs need to possess a sound knowledge of business operations, they learn the fundamentals of business management, finance, accounting, marketing, sales, and more. Additionally, through the curriculum, they are encouraged to develop a comprehensive range of soft and hard skills. These include:
- Communication
- Data analytics
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
- Emotional intelligence
- Innovation
- Creativity
- Negotiation
- Idea pitching
These are just some of the skills needed. Entrepreneurship is a vast field of study and requires a well-rounded education and skill set to succeed in the ever-evolving entrepreneurial landscape in the US.
Through an undergraduate entrepreneurship program, students develop and enhance the required skill set through a rigorous curriculum. They partake in a variety of extracurricular activities that encourage practical learning alongside classroom discourse.
What are the available specializations in entrepreneurship?
A typical four-year degree in entrepreneurship features general courses such as English and math, business courses such as finance and marketing, and entrepreneurship-specific courses.
Entrepreneurship-specific courses focus on teaching students how to create, run, and grow a new business enterprise. Additionally, students can choose courses from a range of electives to customize their academic curriculum and steer it in the direction they want.
Because entrepreneurship is such a vast discipline, there are various specializations they can pursue to develop expertise in their desired field. These include:
- Social entrepreneurship
- Family business management
- Technology in entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship in the global market
- Entrepreneurship in emerging markets
Additionally, students can pursue a master’s or a doctorate in entrepreneurial studies which will further enhance their knowledge of the field.
What degrees do the best colleges for entrepreneurship offer?
No matter which college you choose, there are only a handful of different types of degrees you will find. Globally renowned colleges also have similar degree formats to offer, such as the Waterloo entrepreneurship degrees in Canada. The many similarities in the entrepreneurship offerings by colleges across the globe, make entrepreneurship degrees in the USA a good option.
At the undergraduate level, the most common ones are Bachelor of Arts (BA), and Bachelor of Science (BS). Both of these are 4-year programs with differences in the curriculum, focus areas, and teaching methodologies.
Students hoping to pursue further specialization in the field can opt for either master’s, or even doctorate degrees. A master’s degree typically spans over two years, provided students complete their research dissertation in the time duration.
However, doctoral degrees take anywhere from four to seven years and may not be the best option for aspiring entrepreneurs. Additionally, students can also look at shorter programs such as associate degrees, which typically span two years.
The sheer number of available options leaves students wondering which degree is best for entrepreneurship. Here is a detailed look at degree types to help you make the right choice.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurship focuses on building skills such as communication, and critical thinking. The program takes on a holistic approach providing students with the resources needed to develop technical and soft skills.
The Metropolitan State University of Denver, State University of New York at Paltz, and Bethany Global University are just some of the entrepreneurship colleges in the US offering BA in entrepreneurship.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is slightly different from a Bachelor of Arts. The focus of BS degrees is primarily on building technical and quantitative skills such as data analytics. Entrepreneurship students are provided with the resources needed to enhance logical thinking and reasoning. Moreover, they are taught data-backed decision-making.
Rowan University, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Arizona are some entrepreneurship colleges in the US offering Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurship degrees.
Associate degrees
If a four-year degree program is not for you, then a two-year associate degree might be a good option. They are available at local community colleges and many also offer an online entrepreneurship degree.
With an associate degree, students can develop a basic understanding of the entrepreneurial field. Later, they can choose to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s or a master’s degree.
Master’s degree
Because the entrepreneurial field is such a vast discipline and is ever-evolving, students can benefit from a master’s degree. In the two-year program, they will learn how to take advantage of the economy to lead their entrepreneurial venture to success.
Moreover, students will have to complete internships and projects to meet graduation requirements. However, these vary by program so make sure to conduct in-depth research.
Doctorate
Doctorate degrees are ideal for entrepreneurship students interested in research in the field. Career prospects with a PhD in entrepreneurship include teaching entrepreneurship to students at colleges.
Enroll at the best colleges for entrepreneurship for a successful career!
The plethora of options available can be daunting, but it is also a good sign. It shows that the entrepreneurial field is an up-and-coming study discipline in the US. With entrepreneurial activity skyrocketing in the country, formal education is becoming essential to help aspiring entrepreneurs succeed.
Here are some of the best colleges for entrepreneurship sorted by state:
- Entrepreneurship colleges in Colorado
- Best entrepreneurship colleges in Kentucky
- Private and public colleges in Connecticut
- Explore entrepreneurship colleges in California
- Find the ideal entrepreneurship college in New York
Best of luck in your hunt for the ideal entrepreneurship program in the US!