Key takeaways:
- According to CNBC, Alabama is the most improved state for business activity in the United States.
- The state has several initiatives designed to improve the entrepreneurial landscape such as Advantage Site and Innovate Alabama.
- By choosing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship at an Alabama college, aspiring entrepreneurs can take advantage of the thriving entrepreneurial landscape.
- There are 60 active industrial sites in Alabama which have created 7,700 new jobs and counting in the state that entrepreneurship graduates can benefit from.
- Alabama A&M University is the largest historically black university in Alabama, offering one of the finest entrepreneurship programs in the state.
- Other colleges offering entrepreneurship bachelor’s degrees include the University of Alabama At Birmingham, the University of Alabama, Samford University, and more.
- The University of West Alabama offers an entrepreneurship degree specifically designed for those pursuing creative arts as a profession.
Choosing where and what to study is a difficult choice to make. The study discipline students choose directly influences one’s career opportunities and choices. Those seeking an ideal study location and discipline should consider an Alabama college for a bachelor in entrepreneurship.
In this article, we list some suggested Alabama colleges ideal for an entrepreneurship degree, discuss entrepreneurship as a study discipline and guide candidates on how to find the ideal Alabama college for entrepreneurship.
List of Alabama colleges offering bachelor degree in entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is a vast study discipline. Students enjoy four years of rigorous learning to gain in-depth knowledge of theoretical concepts and practical entrepreneurial experiences. Here is a list of some excellent Alabama colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in entrepreneurship.
Alabama A&M University
Alabama A&M University is a historically black public Alabama college. In fact, it is the largest historically black college in Alabama and one of the few offering entrepreneurship programs.
The college offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship degree. The program teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to set up a profitable business venture.
BSC in entrepreneurship at Alabama A&M University is an interdisciplinary program. Students learn various transferable skills that they can utilize to take advantage of several job opportunities with an entrepreneurship degree from Alabama A&M University.
At Alabama A&M University, the alumni are heavily involved with students to give back to the college. Their knowledge and practical experience enhance the student’s learning experience.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Huntsville, Alabama | 2.0 | 68.4% | $10,024 |
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship offered at the University of Alabama Birmingham is excellent for aspiring entrepreneurs. Through the four-year program, students gain a holistic understanding of what entrepreneurship entails.
Moreover, they learn skills that will help them lead their entrepreneurial ventures to success via experiential learning, and interaction with industry experts and like-minded individuals. The program curriculum focuses on enhancing self-reliance, problem-solving, and critical thinking in students.
Additionally, students can benefit from resources such as a fully equipped workspace in the Innovation Depot. The workspace aims to equip students hoping to build tech startups with the resources they need to bring their vision to life.
Students also benefit from collaborations with organizations such as the Bill L. Harbor Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The opportunity to interact with industry experts and successful entrepreneurs allows students to gain hands-on experience and first-hand industry knowledge.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Birmingham, Alabama | 2.75 | 86.7% | $8,832 |
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama offers a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship. The program is designed to train entrepreneurs to bring new ideas to life. It takes into consideration the dynamic nature of entrepreneurship and teaches students how to embrace change.
A key focus of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Alabama is on experiential learning. There is great emphasis on networking, peer-to-peer engagement and learning, and competitions.
Moreover, students are encouraged to take part in competitions and pitch their business ideas to industry experts and professionals. The college also provides additional support to students with exceptional business ideas by aiding them in securing funding.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 3.0 | 80.1% | $11,940 |
University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship. It is ideal for those looking for a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship.
Students will learn a variety of skills and comprehensive knowledge of business operations. Core courses include Introduction to Business Management, Data Analytics, Management Theory and Practice, Principles of Marketing, and so on.
Mandatory courses from the entrepreneurship concentration include legal and financial aspects of entrepreneurship, new venture creation, social entrepreneurship, and creativity and innovation.
Moreover, students must complete experiential learning requirements. These include professional experience I, II, and III, and professional preparation. Additionally, students must complete at least one internship in a related field.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Mobile, Alabama | 3.4 | 65.4% | $9,116 |
Samford University
Samford University is a private Alabama college offering an entrepreneurship major. With features such as the Samford Startup, a student-led business incubator, it is one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the state.
The faculty at Samford recognizes that entrepreneurship is a vast discipline. Thus, it aims to improve students’ educational experience by providing them with comprehensive knowledge of the field.
Students learn about entrepreneurship through first-hand experiences. They learn to create a positive impact within organizations and the business community as a whole. Problem-solving and critical thinking are at the forefront of the academic curriculum.
Moreover, students learn how to become successful entrepreneurs instead of just being business owners by harnessing the power of leadership. They learn industry trends, tips, and tricks to ensure they are qualified to lead their startups to success.
On-campus, they benefit from a variety of resources such as the Samford startup, Micro-Business funding, and Entrepreneurship, Management, and Marketing advisory board.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Homewood, Alabama | 3.8 | 83.3% | $36,725 |
University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama offers a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship specifically designed for those pursuing creative arts as a profession. Through the four-year program, candidates learn how to market their creative ability.
Thus, students interested in visual arts, music, creative writing, animation, and more should consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree in creative arts enterprise from the University of West Alabama.
It is a one-of-a-kind program where students not only learn to master their craft but also its business side. Moreover, candidates will learn how to monetize their craft, with marketing and management techniques.
The program focuses heavily on practical learning and students must complete a 135-hour internship as part of graduation requirements. Students are also encouraged to develop strong portfolios.
| Location | Minimum GPA | Acceptance rate | Tuition cost |
| Livingston, Alabama | 3.31 | 68.9% | $10,990 |
What does an entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree offer?
While nearly everyone has a business idea, not everyone has a successful business. Many aspiring entrepreneurs don’t know where to start, or start and are unable to deal with the challenges they meet along the way. An undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship can help!
An entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree is specifically designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in entrepreneurial ventures. It includes a combination of courses across various fields to help candidates develop a holistic understanding of running a business.
Courses in an entrepreneurship program are often divided into three broad categories. At the core of the program lie fundamental business concepts and courses in the fields of finance, accounting, business, management, human resources, and so on.
The second category includes entrepreneurship-specific courses designed to hone an entrepreneurial mindset. Here, students learn to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and gain skills and knowledge of all that is needed to lead an organization.
Thirdly, there is the electives category. Students enjoy the freedom to choose whatever subjects they like from this category to complete the number of elective credit hours required to graduate from the program.
Here is what a typical course framework for an entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree looks like:
| Business courses | Entrepreneurship courses | Electives |
| Principles of management | Introduction to entrepreneurship | Entrepreneurial marketing |
| Macroeconomics | Entrepreneurial law | Technology in entrepreneurship |
| Microeconomics | New venture creation | Family business management |
| Accounting principles | Entrepreneurial finance | Entrepreneurial sales |
| Business law | Entrepreneurial leadership | International entrepreneurship |
Additionally, students will have to complete a mandatory internship, or a capstone project to complete their learning experience and obtain their entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree. The graduation requirements vary depending on the college and program of choice.
How to find the ideal Alabama college for an entrepreneurship degree?
There are several private and public Alabama colleges where you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship. Several historically black colleges in Alabama offer rich historical and cultural perspectives along with academic excellence.
With over 60 colleges in Alabama to choose from, our degree advice would be to conduct in-depth research. Whether you choose to pursue a bachelor of entrepreneurship online or on-campus, before selecting a college, make sure you consider the following.
Faculty
Department faculty is one of the most important considerations when choosing a college. The academic qualifications of professors and their academic qualifications have a direct impact on a student’s learning experience. It also significantly impacts the quality of education a student can expect to receive at the institute.
Admission requirements
Secondly, candidates must look into a college’s admission requirements. Typically, college requires a high school diploma, a minimum GPA, standardized test scores, recommendation letters, and an essay of interest.
However, admission requirements may vary by Alabama college. Some colleges may not require a minimum GPA, whereas others may not require recommendation letters.
Graduation requirements
The graduation requirements dictate what a student must complete to achieve their degree. These include completion of set credit hours, internships, projects, and other requirements. Students will have to choose subjects and timelines keeping all these requirements in mind to graduate with their batch.
Cost of attendance
Financing an undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship is another major consideration. The cost of attendance includes tuition cost, housing, supplies, and more. The average tuition cost at a public university in Alabama is $11,081 and the average cost of attendance is $22,204 for in-state students.
However, the cost of attendance for out-of-state students at public colleges is significantly higher. Additionally, education at a private Alabama college is costlier than public colleges. Candidates looking for affordable options can pursue a bachelor of entrepreneurship online.
What job opportunities are available with an entrepreneurship degree?
Entrepreneurial capability is defined by an entrepreneur’s resilience, ability to identify opportunities, solve problems, apply innovative techniques, leverage technologies to improve the value provided, and so much more.
Students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship learn all this in combination with theoretical and conceptual knowledge of what business management entails. Additionally, they gain knowledge and skills in a variety of fields including finance, accounting, management, recruitment, leadership, and more.
A bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship is an excellent option for not just aspiring entrepreneurs but also students looking for a degree with flexible career opportunities.
Here are some job opportunities graduates with an entrepreneurship degree can explore.
- Financial Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Operations Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Marketing Manager
After getting an entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree, candidates can enjoy a successful career. In fact, some of the corporate jobs available to entrepreneurship graduates are among the highest-paying jobs in the United States.
Enroll in the ideal Alabama college for entrepreneurship today!
Alabama is the United States’ most improved state for business activity as per CNBC’s annual competitiveness study. The state has the 14th highest migration rate of college-educated workers.
The influx of skilled and educated workers has brought a surge in employment rates and reduced unemployment levels to 2.8%, nearly half of the US average of 4.2%. Moreover, initiatives such as Advantage Site, and Innovate Alabama provide excellent opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Advantage Site is one of the best site readiness programs in the United States providing companies with pre-prepped land to build facilities. Innovate Alabama has a number of programs that help entrepreneurs gain capital to finance entrepreneurial ventures.
Moreover, the state invested $40 million in the project in 2023 alone and now has 60 active sites, creating 7,700 jobs. Additionally, several colleges in Alabama offer excellent entrepreneurship programs. Studying a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship at an Alabama college can equip you for a successful entrepreneurial career.