One of the best ways to remain competitive in today’s management workforce is to pursue a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
Let’s face it: small firms are the drivers of the American economy. This means that an education in managing these firms can help entrepreneurs overcome the tremendous, 1-in-2 failure rate for startup companies.
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What is the best MBA in Entrepreneurship?
To maximize flexibility, many of the best MBA programs have moved online and embraced a highly flexible format. Among these MBA programs, there are a few that stand out. Along with ones that are known from coast to coast, the best MBA Entrepreneurship degrees are from top business schools and include these aspects:
- AACSB-accredited
- Regionally accredited
- Highly affordable
- Prestigious
In the world of graduate business education, prestige, and networking outweigh most other factors when choosing the best Entrepreneurship MBA program. For this reason, the ranking of business schools below focuses primarily on:
- Name recognition
- Academic prestige
- Affordability
- Flexibility
Each top entrepreneurial MBA program provides students with a powerful brand name and a vast network of professionals that will help them grow their careers in a dynamic way.
Please note: Tuition is accurate at time of writing and is subject to change. Additional fees may apply. When applicable, in-state tuition in listed.
Indiana University
Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business was one of the first online MBAs from a major, public university in the United States. Over the course of more than a decade, IU’s AACSB-accredited online MBA in entrepreneurship program has become one of the largest and most prestigious options available nationwide.
With more affordable tuition than the MBA program at UNC Chapel Hill, the school seems a better fit for entrepreneurs who are looking to start their careers with as little debt as possible. The overall reputation and instructional quality of the school, which often ranks in the top 5 online MBA programs in U.S. News and World Report, is also top-notch.
The Kelley MBA can be completed in as little as two years. However, part-time MBA students might take as long as three years to finish the required coursework. In addition to the typically broad MBA core curriculum, Kelley students can opt for an entrepreneurship concentration that spans 9 or 12 credit hours.
The MBA program’s central focus is on the mechanics of actually starting and growing a business, with a significant focus on the economic, strategic, and human resources implications of a growing firm.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has seen its MBA evolve from a fledgling program to one that’s tied for first place with the more established online MBA at Temple University in Philadelphia. While the schools are on par in terms of quality, it’s worth noting that UNC Chapel Hill’s MBA in entrepreneurship is more than three times the price of Temple’s program.
While prestigious, that means this school could be out of reach for students on a budget. Even so, it has earned a place in the top three programs for its high degree of prestige and its track record for getting MBA graduates into lucrative positions and long-term careers.
Within the MBA in entrepreneurship program, UNC Chapel Hill offers a robust, 9-credit concentration in entrepreneurship that teaches students:
- The economics of starting a new venture
- The process of growing the venture and adding employees
- The ethical concerns of entrepreneurs in today’s marketplace
General business courses focus on a broad variety of topics, ranging from:
- Economics
- Statistics
- Integrated Marketing
- Finance
- Managerial Accounting
- Entrepreneurship Skills
This top entrepreneurial MBA program can be completed in about two years on a part-time basis and offers robust career services for online program graduates.
Oklahoma State University
One of two flagship public universities in Oklahoma, OSU offers a highly affordable online MBA that has ranked in the top 40 programs nationwide in the U.S. News and World Report. In addition to offering a robust entrepreneurship concentration within its MBA curriculum, Oklahoma State has a separate School of Entrepreneurship that is centrally focused on both instruction and research in the field.
The School of Entrepreneurship is among the top business schools in the country. It has helped the university earn a reputation as a top school for starting new firms. Its research has also been central to the explosion of tech startups nationwide over the last two decades. The online MBA in entrepreneurship can be completed in two years, on a part-time basis.
Northeastern University
Once a commuter school for regional students, Northeastern University has grown in recent decades to become a top-ranked national university for students from coast to coast.
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is one of the top business research centers in the country. The business school offers a separate Department of Entrepreneurship that focuses centrally on the creation and growth of new firms and has earned a top-50 ranking among all online MBA programs in the country.
Northeastern’s best MBA in entrepreneurship emphasizes hands-on learning, while:
- Encouraging online students to work in groups and study cases
- Engaging in high-tech simulations that teach the basics of starting a firm
- Learning how to secure funding and bring a product to market
The MBA also benefits from a 235 percent explosion in employer partners who actively recruit Northeastern graduates.
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is notably the only university in Greater Boston that has earned AACSB accreditation for both its accounting and business programs. These accreditations have helped position Suffolk University in the top 1 percent of business schools globally. Though better known for its law school, Suffolk offers a top-30 MBA with a highly successful entrepreneurship concentration.
The business school, a prolific producer of management research, has a broad core curriculum that pairs with 9 credits of elective study. Within the MBA in entrepreneurship, graduate students will study:
- The economics of starting a firm
- The ethics of securing funding and working with “angel” investors
- The process of growing the firm’s products, familiarity, and employment base
UMASS Amherst
UMass Amherst offers one of the largest online entrepreneurship MBA programs, boosted by an extensive marketing effort as well as an excellent reputation in the world of higher education.
Operating for more than a decade, the online MBA program at Amherst offers a concentration in entrepreneurship and general leadership. Between 9 and 12 credits are required, which will introduce MBA students to:
- Topics surrounding ethical leadership
- The details of starting and growing a firm
- How to navigate a highly competitive marketplace of ideas and high-tech products
The business school’s online program is ranked in the top 15 online MBAs nationwide, according to the U.S. News and World Report. It is also named a best value and a leader among national universities.
University of Houston
The University of Houston System is the leading, urban provider of public higher education in the city of Houston. The school’s state funding allows it to offer exceedingly affordable tuition to Houston and Texas residents, making it one of the most affordable online programs for these MBA students. Out-of-state residents pay more but still get a great value.
The 36-credit best entrepreneurship MBA program at the University of Houston offers a concentration in entrepreneurship based on the university’s extensive academic research into innovation management and startups. Business students focus primarily on the technology industry in case studies that teach entrepreneurial skills like the following:
- Starting a business
- Growing a business
- Marketing a business
- Diversifying a business
Internships and high-tech simulations also teach students how their actions directly affect a growing firm.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida has emerged as a leader in regional higher education for online students in recent years, with an online MBA for entrepreneurs. This MBA is both highly affordable and AACSB-accredited.
The business school offers a discount to in-state students with Florida residency, even in its online program. This discount allows many MBA graduates to leave the university without a significant student loan debt load.
The 9-credit concentration in entrepreneurship focuses on entrepreneurial skills in the world of business, including:
- Securing funding
- Setting a marketing strategy
- Growing the firm through both employment and increased sales
- Overcoming business challenges
Fayetteville State University
One of North Carolina’s largest and most affordable public universities, Fayetteville State is a top-ranked school for veterans. The school is located near a military base and offers a robust set of tools for veterans that makes it easier to schedule and afford the cost of the online MBA.
The MBA in entrepreneurship is online and includes up to 12 credits of coursework in:
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Innovation Management
- Small Firm Marketing
- Ethical Leadership
Fayetteville State University graduate students complete a required capstone course during their final semester of enrollment. This capstone project consists of a business management and consulting simulation. The project is designed to both pull together the core concepts of the program and to teach students how to make effective decisions when they own businesses.
On a part-time basis, this online entrepreneurship MBA can be completed in approximately two years. Thanks to its flexible, veteran-centric focus, however, the program can run for as long as three years to meet student needs.
Ohio University
Often overshadowed by Ohio State University, this state-funded institution offers a top-ranked MBA in entrepreneurship that is often overlooked. Ohio University, located in the small town of Athens, boasts one of the best business schools for entrepreneurship. Ohio University offers an online MBA with several concentrations in fields like healthcare and leadership.
Students in the leadership concentration can opt to take courses that focus on leading a new firm, giving them the skills they need to be successful entrepreneurs after graduation. Easily one of the most affordable online MBAs in the nation, Ohio University’s program requires 36 total credits. Of those credits, 9 credit hours must be in a concentration.
Business students also complete a capstone course at the end of the program and have the opportunity to travel to Athens for an in-person residency with their online cohort. The MBA program takes two years to complete on a part-time basis. Applicants do not need to submit GMAT scores when applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
An MBA can be a valuable degree for an entrepreneur who wants to start or grow their own business. While entrepreneurship is often associated with creativity and risk-taking, it also requires a strong understanding of business ideas and fundamentals, including:
Finance
Marketing
Operations Management
Strategy
An MBA program can provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the complex world of business and make informed decisions about venture capital. It can also help them build a network of contacts, including fellow students, alumni, and faculty, who can provide advice, feedback, and potential partnerships.
An MBA in Entrepreneurship can be valuable for aspiring business owners as it provides essential skills and knowledge in areas like business strategy, finance, and marketing. However, its worthiness depends on individual career goals, industry trends, and the reputation of the MBA program.
Most entrepreneurs do not have an MBA; many successful entrepreneurs have gained experience through hands-on learning, networking, and perseverance rather than formal education. While an MBA can provide valuable skills, it’s not a requirement for entrepreneurial success.
An MBA focuses on general business principles and management skills applicable across various industries, while an MBA in Entrepreneurship emphasizes specialized knowledge and skills tailored for starting and managing businesses. The entrepreneurship-focused program typically includes coursework on venture creation, innovation, funding strategies, and business development specific to entrepreneurial endeavors.
It usually takes about two years to complete an MBA in entrepreneurship, consisting of coursework, practical projects, and internships designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to start and run successful businesses. Some programs may offer accelerated options or part-time formats to accommodate different schedules.
Choosing between entrepreneurship and business administration depends on your career goals. Entrepreneurship focuses on starting and managing your own business, while business administration offers broader training in various aspects of running organizations, including management, finance, and marketing.