Key takeaways
- Degrees in entrepreneurship help aspiring entrepreneurs build a competitive advantage in the entrepreneurial field.
- There has been a 50% increase in per-month business applications in the US since 2019 raising the number to 430, 000 applications per month.
- Small businesses account for 70% of the total new job openings in the US since 2019.
- Business entrepreneurship degrees are ideal for candidates wanting to take advantage of the versatility of entrepreneurship discipline and build specific skills.
- Alternate degrees in entrepreneurship include business administration, accounting, human resources, and marketing.
- The University of Idaho offers an excellent marketing and entrepreneurship program for aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Students wishing to develop accounting skills can look into the Bachelor of Accounting program at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
A bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is not the only path toward an entrepreneurial career. Even though some may argue that it is undoubtedly the best, the truth is that it is not the only one that can prepare aspiring entrepreneurs for success.
Business degrees in entrepreneurship offer a similar, if not more valuable, learning outcome. Additionally, they provide students the option to specialize in certain fields. A business entrepreneurship degree may be the best option for students looking to develop or enhance a particular entrepreneurial skill.
In this article, we discuss the importance of entrepreneurial education in detail, what is included in an entrepreneurship degree, and list some of the best business degrees in entrepreneurship.
What are the ideal business degrees in entrepreneurship?
If you are interested in venturing down the path of entrepreneurship, business degrees can be an ideal choice. Here are a few business degrees in entrepreneurship that can aid entrepreneurs in their journey and provide high-paying employment opportunities.
Business Administration
A bachelor’s in business administration, or BBA, is one of the best options for those hoping to pursue a career in the corporate workforce. It is another versatile degree, much like the bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship but with a heavy focus on building administrative capabilities.
The four-year program teaches students essential skills in finance, accounting, and management. Typical courses include:
- Principles of Accounting
- Business Finance
- Business Ethics
- Principles of Management
- Human Resource Management
Additionally, students will have to choose a focus area of study. Available options include entrepreneurship for aspiring entrepreneurs, ‘Information systems management’, ‘Organizational leadership’, ‘Supply chain’, ‘Project management’, and so on.
Through a rigorous curriculum, students will build clear concepts, understand the effect of the social, economic, and political environment, identify the scope of business opportunities, and more.
Moreover, students gain a mix of technical skills such as cost analysis, budgeting, database management, information systems management, and soft skills such as communication, adaptability, creativity, decision-making, and so on.
Potential job opportunities with a bachelor’s degree in business administration include:
- Real-Estate Agent
- Operations Manager
- Process Analyst
- Sales Executive
- Senior Manager
The career outlook for students with a business occupation as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is as follows:
| Median pay | Number of jobs in 2024 | Job growth rate |
| $79,050 | 963,500 | Faster than average |
Accounting
The base for a bachelor’s accounting degree is pretty much the same as that of a business administration one. However, besides the similarities in foundational courses, the curriculum is quite different.
The four-year accounting program features a blend of business, accounting, economics, and mathematics courses. The exact curriculum and program outline will vary depending on whether students pursue a Bachelor of Arts in accounting, a Bachelor of Science in accounting, or a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.
However, here is a list of courses you can expect to undertake in an accounting program:
- Managerial Accounting
- Auditing
- Federal Income Taxation
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Corporate Strategy
With an accounting degree, students can apply for jobs such as:
- Budget Analyst
- Controller
- Tax Collector and Examiner
- Auditor
The career outlook for accountants and auditors as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is as follows:
| Median pay | Number of jobs in 2024 | Job growth rate |
| $67,750 | 933,700 | 8% |
Human Resources
A bachelor’s degree in human resources prepares students for a fulfilling career. Human resource graduates are some of the most sought-after graduates in the world. Nearly every sector, every industry, and every corporation requires human resource personnel.
In a bachelor’s degree in human resources, students learn a variety of skills. However, the most important one is how to find the right person for not only the job but also the organization.
A human resource student will learn employee management, building and maintaining employee and labor relationships, team motivation, and employment law. Additionally, they will also take fundamental business courses which will enable them to perform optimally in a corporation.
These include:
- Business Law
- Business Ethics
- Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership
- Compensation and Benefits Systems
- Talent Acquisition and Management
A human resource degree is ideal for you if you have emotional intelligence, are excellent communicators, and have a knack for relationship building. However, before you apply, make sure you read up on who should get a human resource degree.
The career outlook for human resource specialists as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is as follows:
| Median pay | Number of jobs in 2024 | Job growth rate |
| $67,750 | 933,700 | 8% |
There are plenty of job opportunities that human resource graduates can pursue besides human resource specialists. These include HR coordinator, compensation specialist, recruitment consultant, and more.
You can also read career guides on career paths with a bachelor’s degree in human resources.
Marketing
Marketing is an important aspect of business operations. Through marketing, an organization makes itself known. Businesses promote themselves, their products, efforts for environmental sustainability, and social responsibility initiatives.
And it is through these marketing efforts that brands develop a perception, an image in the eyes of the consumers. Thus, a marketing degree is one of the most essential business degrees in entrepreneurship. In fact, many colleges offer an entrepreneurship minor to marketing students and vice versa.
Through a four-year marketing program, students learn how to think creatively, strategically plan a company’s long and short-term goals, and find innovative ways to promote products and services. Typical courses include:
- Consumer Behavior
- Competitive Marketing Strategy
- Public Relations
- Brand Management
- Business Communication
In addition, students will take a variety of business courses including finance, accounting, and budgeting. They will learn how to create pitches, business plans, marketing strategies, budgets, and so much more.
With a degree in marketing, students can apply for jobs such as:
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Product Manager
- Copywriter
- Marketing Strategist
- Marketing Research Analyst
The career potential is endless, and the career prospects are excellent. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager’s job outlook is as follows:
| Median pay | Number of jobs in 2024 | Job growth rate |
| $156,580 | 411,300 | 8% |
Which colleges offer business degrees in entrepreneurship?
Several colleges across the US offer entrepreneurship degrees at all levels. Candidates can pursue a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from many renowned colleges. They can also choose to pursue a doctorate if they want to become an expert in entrepreneurial studies.
However, it is a fact that entrepreneurship degrees are designed specifically for aspiring entrepreneurs. Thus, they may not be the ideal choice for everyone. If you are asking, ‘Should I get a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship?’, you will need to do some research and exploration.
If an entrepreneurship degree doesn’t seem as attractive, but you want to study entrepreneurship, explore business degrees in entrepreneurship. Here are some recommendations:
University of Idaho
For a marketing and entrepreneurship program, the University of Idaho is an ideal option. The focus of the program is to teach students about running a business by making them run a business.
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi offers a business administration degree with a focus on entrepreneurship. Students hoping to gain in-depth knowledge of business functions from an entrepreneurial perspective will benefit from the program.
University of Illinois Chicago
Aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to develop a sound knowledge of business accountancy can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Texas A&M University
The Human Resource Management BBA from Texas A&M University is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs. They develop a well-rounded knowledge base of business administration and human resource management essential for success in entrepreneurial ventures.
You can also explore other colleges in Texas for human resource management if you are certain this is the ideal career path for you.
Why explore degrees in entrepreneurship?
In 2024, the average number of per-month business applications in the United States is 430,000. According to the US Department of The Treasury, that is a 50% increase since 2019. As a result of rising entrepreneurial activity in the United States, small businesses created 70% of net new jobs since 2019.
New entrepreneurs are going to enter a market riddled with competition. To succeed, they must have a competitive edge that can help them outperform their competitors. A formal education is the perfect starting point as it gears students up for success.
A bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is one of the best options for aspiring entrepreneurs. The degree is designed to prepare aspiring entrepreneurs for a successful entrepreneurial career. After graduation, students can also pursue higher education in the form of a master’s degree in entrepreneurship or even a doctorate.
What will I learn in a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship?
A bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is a four-year program where students learn how to be the best entrepreneur they can be. The program curriculum focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial capabilities through an ideal combination of classroom and experiential learning.
The goal of the program is to provide students with essential business knowledge and vital entrepreneurial skills. They learn how to launch, run, and grow a new business venture.
The bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is usually a 120-credit hour program. The choice of courses and curriculum pattern depends on whether students choose a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science business degree.
Make sure you acquaint yourself with the types of degrees before enrolling in an entrepreneurship major. For details, refer to our article ‘Best entrepreneurship colleges in the US’, where we have a section dedicated to explaining the different types of entrepreneurship degrees.
Here is a summary of the differences between a BA and a BS degree in entrepreneurship.
| Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Science |
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What curriculum is followed by degrees in entrepreneurship?
A typical entrepreneurship degree features a mix of general, business, and entrepreneurship-specific courses. Additionally, students are also required to complete an internship and a few projects for experiential learning in the entrepreneurial field.
General courses include subjects such as English, math, communication, economics, and general history. These vary by degree type, so make sure you look into the specifics of the degree you choose.
Business courses can include management, finance, human resources, recruitment, supply chain, marketing, and so on. The goal of these programs is to impart a comprehensive understanding of business operations.
Lastly, we have entrepreneurship-specific courses focused on honing entrepreneurial capabilities. These include courses such as new venture creation, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, securing entrepreneurial finance, and so on.
Here is a list of some of the most common courses offered in degrees for entrepreneurship:
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- New Venture Creation
- Business Plan Development
- Innovation and Creativity
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship
- Venture Capital and Private Equity
Available entrepreneurship degree jobs
With a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship, students fit the ideal candidate profile for a variety of roles across an organization. They will have no trouble gaining employment in the public or private sector.
Potential job opportunities for entrepreneurship degree holders include:
- Financial Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Marketing Manager
- Operations Manager
- Recruitment Specialist
- Human Resource Manager
- Investment Advisor
These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a plethora of entrepreneurship degree jobs graduates can apply for if starting their own business is not on the cards right away.
Choose business degrees in entrepreneurship for a successful career!
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preferences and an individual’s career goals. Students who are unsure of which path to take must seek degree advice, and career counseling when planning for college.
Business degrees in entrepreneurship are ideal for candidates who want the advantages of the versatility of the entrepreneurship discipline but also develop specific skills. These skills can help provide a competitive advantage in the job market.
Graduates of a business entrepreneurship major enjoy rewarding careers in some of the most high-paying roles across the globe. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about entrepreneurship degrees to help you decide the best way forward for you.