Which are the Top Entrepreneurship Schools in the U.S.?
Entrepreneurship is one of the most sought-out career moves by a lot of people today. It involves great risks and greater rewards. That’s why a lot of determination and nerve goes into becoming an entrepreneur in any field or category.
That doesn’t mean there’s no need for education. It used to be that entrepreneurs thought about revolutionary products or services and got ahead of the competition, i.e., Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates. Besides that, entrepreneurship is extremely important for the economy—especially in wobbly times like today.
According to research, entrepreneurship generated 10.5 million jobs in the U.S. from 2000 to 2019. But entrepreneurship isn’t just about coming up with innovative products or services anymore. It’s important to have some sort of education to become an entrepreneur because:
- You need to be able to handle finances;
- You will have to manage promotions/marketing;
- And you will have to manage people.
That’s why colleges with entrepreneurship programs are quite popular in today’s world. So, which are the best schools for entrepreneurship undergraduates, and which programs should you be looking for? Let’s find out.
Criteria for Evaluating Schools for Entrepreneurs
There are certain aspects to look for when finding the best colleges for entrepreneurship. The reputation of many universities and institutions speaks for itself but students have to evaluate a variety of other things before deciding on the right option for them.
That’s why it’s important to follow a set of criteria to decide on choosing the best business school for entrepreneurship for you. This criterion can include a few things, such as:
- The quality of courses and general curriculum. This should include a variety of courses that teach necessary aspects of entrepreneurship, such as leadership skills, management, finance, marketing, etc. Besides, a special focus on supply chain, accounts, or workplace leadership is always a plus.
- The faculty’s reputation and prowess matter equally. For instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) is a renowned university. On the other hand, the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management as a very famous faculty that deals with business and management aspects and provides some of the best programs in the nation.
- Resources provided by the entrepreneurship university matter a lot as well. For instance, the university may provide health services, libraries, mental counseling, career counseling, internships, mentorships, etc.
- An alumni network that helps students or mentors them is equally important as well when students graduate, and need kickstart their networking skills and find mentors.
- And lastly, it’s important that you follow the reputation of the university. You don’t have to go for the most famous university in the world, but any accredited business schools and accepted across the United States should be the main thing to look for.
These criteria should be enough to help you find the best schools for entrepreneurship, undergraduate or otherwise.
Key Benefits of Attending an Entrepreneurship School
Attending any school won’t make you an automatic expert in your field. It’ll still take a lot of determination, skill-polishing, and continuous perseverance to become a successful entrepreneur. But, attending a school for formal education in entrepreneurship helps you with a few key benefits, such as:
- Formal understanding of challenges and obstacles in the entrepreneurship journey;
- First-hand experiences from teachers/mentors who are entrepreneurs;
- Basic understanding of business management and handling;
- The natural development of leadership skills;
- And channeling your energy and innovation in the right/professional direction.
This is why a formal education in any sort of field can be superior to diving into things head first without learning anything. Attending an entrepreneurship school also opens the doors to the possibility of learning from actual entrepreneurs.
For instance, Harvard Business School has special seminars and lectures done by successful entrepreneurs from various industries. This sort of knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurial challenges is scarce without a proper degree or school.
That’s why only an accredited and best business school for entrepreneurship can arrange things like this for students.
Choosing the Right Entrepreneurship School for You
Now comes the real and first challenge for you on your entrepreneurial journey. How do you go about choosing the right entrepreneurship school for you? You have the names above, and you know the criteria, but does that include other things that you may not have considered yet? For instance:
- Can you pay the fee for M.I.T. or Harvard Business School?
- Does it offer scholarship?
- Is the entrepreneurship school near you easy to commute?
- Is an online entrepreneurship degree more suitable for you?
- What is more important–a learning experience or a certificate?
- Does it have a support system that will help you kickstart your career?
These are the questions that you need to ask yourself. Moreover some other aspects you can take into account include
If an entrepreneurship degree program is right for you in another state, are you willing to move there? And pay the out-of-state extra fee worth it?
Now, deciding all that depends entirely on you and the type of entrepreneurial journey that you wish for.
That’s why when you can pick the best entrepreneurship programs for high school students, but it’ll come down to your determination. All of the schools mentioned above are the top ones on their own, but you can find other entrepreneurship colleges or universities that might be better for you.
Top Entrepreneurship Schools in the U.S.
You might be looking for the best entrepreneurship colleges near me and considering the criteria mentioned above. But you don’t have to go through all that, as we have hand-picked the top colleges and universities with entrepreneurship programs in the United States. Here they are:
1. Harvard Business School
Harvard is one of the institutions that doesn’t need any sort of introduction. While it may not be the easiest university to get into, it’s definitely the most prolific option available for anyone in the world today. The entrepreneurship program offered here is called:
The H.B.S. entrepreneurship program prepares you for all sorts of challenges. This means by the time you’re done with this course, you will be able to tackle financial, marketing, and management issues for any business.
Location:
- Boston, Massachusetts
Programs:
- Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship
Notable Alumni:
- Mike Bloomberg
- Ratan Tata
- George W. Bush
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford is another institution that may not need much introduction. It’s home to famous alumni, and that’s because of the great accredited programs for entrepreneurship development. Now, you don’t get an exclusive major in entrepreneurship here—but then again, you don’t have to.
Let’s say you wish to become an entrepreneur in I.T., then you can take various courses with degrees such as Computer Science, etc.
Location:
- Stanford, California
Programs:
- Miscellaneous. Entrepreneurship courses in various business degrees.
Notable Alumni:
- Elon Musk
- Peter Thiel
- Tiger Woods
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Sloan School of Management
M.I.T. is one of the most prolific universities in the United States. It’s known for its rigorous admission process that doesn’t guarantee entry to the most capable students. That’s why the entrepreneurship program at this university is one of the best shots at successful entrepreneurship.
It is a series of incredible courses that covers specific areas like management, accounts, financial challenges, marketing, etc. The minor can be taken with any specific business or finance degree at M.I.T.
Location:
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
Programs:
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor
Notable Alumni:
- Kofi Annan
- Buzz Aldrin
- Shirley Ann Jackson
4. The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
UPenn is one of the few universities that offer actual and full-fledged bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for entrepreneurship.
The E&I programs at UPenn are ideal for helping anyone get on their way toward successful entrepreneurship. That’s because both these programs are majors in undergraduate and graduate studies.
Location:
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs:
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Concentration Undergraduate Management
- M.B.A. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Major
Notable Alumni:
- Elon Musk
- Warren Buffet
- Anil Ambani
5. The University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
The University of California is another university from the Golden State that doesn’t require any formal introductions. The university has the renowned Berkeley Haas School of Business. And it offers a remarkable M.E.T. program.
M, E, and T stand for Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology, indicating the focus of this program. That makes it an ideal option for anyone who wishes to advance in the field of technology or management.
Location:
- Berkeley, California
Programs:
- M.E.T Graduate Program
Notable Alumni:
- Steve Wozniak
- Gregory Peck
- Daniel Kahneman
6. Babson College
Babson College is one of the leading private colleges in the United States and one of the best institutions in Massachusetts. The college offers many great programs, and you can pick the entrepreneurship concentration with various business degrees.
This flexible approach allows students to pursue any specific business field while focusing on entrepreneurship with this incredible program.
Location:
- Babson Park, Massachusetts
Programs:
- Bachelor in Business With Entrepreneurship Concentration
Notable Alumni:
- Ernesto Bertarelli
- Stephen Gaghan
- Arthur Blank
7. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University is home to many major businessmen and personalities. That’s because of its advanced and futuristic approach to business degrees. And that’s apparent in the M.B.A. program offered at this university.
The entrepreneurship concentration is an ideal option for graduate students who wish to hone their creativity and innovation with a sprinkle of management.
Location:
- Evanston, Illinois
Programs:
- Master of Business Administration Concentration in Entrepreneurship
Notable Alumni:
- Douglas Conant
- James L. Allen
- Christopher Galvin
8. Arizona State University Online
Arizona State University, or A.S.U. at Tempe, is one of the leading universities in the Copper State. But its online programs have made it accessible to students all across the United States.
One of those incredible online programs happens to be focused on entrepreneurship. That’s why A.S.U. is perhaps the best option for those who need an online entrepreneurship option.
Location:
- Online/Applicable to U.S. Students Only
Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management (Online degree)
Notable Alumni:
- Doug Ducey
- David Spade
- Jimmy Kimmel
9. Franklin University
Franklin University is another accredited option that offers outstanding online degrees. One of those degrees is the online B.S. program offered by the institution.
The Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship is perhaps the best option for those looking to become entrepreneurs in technology, agriculture, or various specific industries. That’s because this program is one of the most affordable and course-rich degrees in the B.S. category.
Location:
- Columbus. Ohio/Online
Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
Notable Alumni:
- John Steinbreder
- Dennis Roady
- Nino Vitale
10. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers some of the best online programs. So there’s no wonder that this one made the list on the back of powerful entrepreneurship program.
This is a 120-credit program in an accredited university. That means you are getting all the qualifications of a full-time graduate in half the time—should you choose to take the accelerated program.
Location:
- Manchester, New Hampshire
Programs:
- B.S. in Business Administration With Entrepreneurship Concentration
Notable Alumni:
- Don Dodge
- Chuck Collins
- Marc Pacheco
Conclusion
Our recommendations above for the best entrepreneurship schools in the United States is based on research and how you should go about picking them. However, keep in mind that there are definitely more options than the ten mentioned above. Understand that you don’t have to limit yourself to entrepreneurship schools degree schools only. You can go for other business degrees like accounting, business management degrees as well as business administration degrees, which are as important to boost your entrepreneurship career. We hope now you know how to pick the best one, you can look for other options near you.