One of the best aspects of earning your MBA degree is that the education you get is absolutely top-to-bottom complete when it comes to business skills. You get the nuts and bolts of basic accounting, marketing, operations, and law and regulation. At the same time, you get a high-level perspective on markets and marketing, strategic planning, financing and funding matters.
What this means is that after you graduate you’re as well-equipped as anyone in the country to start up and build a new business from scratch.
If that’s your dream, then it’s well worth considering an MBA program with a specialty concentration in entrepreneurship, or maybe a social entrepreneurship MBA is more your bag. In either case, you’ll get all the fundamental business building block courses, and on top of that the concentration adds the extra magic that you need to innovate and navigate as a small start-up fish cruising in the turbulent waters with the big sharks of established businesses. And with those skills there is virtually no limit to the kind of amazing things you’ll be able to do with your MBA.
It’s a set of skills that some of those sharks find valuable as well. The challenge for big business is to retain the spark and agility that comes with the start-up mindset to remain flexible and relevant in ever-changing markets. This means that even if you aren’t going to be an entrepreneur, an entrepreneurship concentration can pay dividends.
But first you have to find the right program.
Accredited Programs Are Built Solid From The Ground Up
Accreditation is a good place to start your search for an online MBA in Entrepreneurship. A general accreditation in higher education from one of the six regional accreditation agencies in the United States is a must for every serious university.
But for a business school, there’s an even higher level that you should look for, a specialty accreditation from one of three agencies in the U.S. that exclusively evaluate business schools and individual programs:
- AACSB– Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- IACBE – International Accreditation Council for Business Education
- ACBSP– Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
On a program by program basis, these accreditors look at things like faculty selection and standards, curriculum development, grading practices and even administrative and grievance procedures.
Each of those elements of the program is weighed against the standards and practices of the international business community. The execs and managers that serve as association members provide an up-to-date, real-world perspective on the business training and research that companies want and need.
Picking a specialty accredited program is vital to ensure that the education you are getting for your MBA matches the needs of employers and the market.
How We Selected MBA Programs For The List
So specialty business accreditation was where we started, but we didn’t stop there. Instead, we took a deep dive into those programs to find the very best options available in the U.S. today… schools that offer something a little bit above and beyond the usual. And we came up with some great finds!
Convenience and Flexibility
First, we picked only programs that have at least some online component. You’re busy, you’re on the move, you need an MBA program that can give you the flexibility to move on your own path while getting the information and education you need. Online courses let you shift your classwork around to fit into the demands of life and business in a way that any entrepreneur will appreciate. If a program isn’t flexible enough to fit your work schedule, it simply isn’t going to work.
Quality of Business Core Courses
Next, we validated the core business curriculum at the school. A great set of classes on innovation and funding are nice, but they’re wasted if you don’t get the right skills that anchor every business: accounting, financing, HR, and strategic planning skills are important in organizations of every size. And since you’re building something from the ground up, you have to have a strong command of all of it on day one. There isn’t going to be anyone else to pick up the slack.
Networking Opportunities and Support
Then, we looked at support systems available to students. Although it’s true that you’re on your own at your startup, it’s also true that entrepreneurs exist and thrive in a big, interlocking web of community support. Whether it’s through on campus startup clubs or university-funded incubators, we tried to pick programs that help you develop your network and build connections before you ever file your first set of incorporation papers.
X-Factor
Finally, we kept our eyes open for the stuff that is truly unique and special. A school that offers an entrepreneurship concentration while still allowing you to study in another specialty track, for instance (after all, entrepreneurship isn’t a field!). Or schools that focus on innovation as much as entrepreneurship, giving you the skills and perspectives to take an entrepreneurial mindset into an existing corporation. If a program had a focus on a particular strain of entrepreneurship, for a minority population, perhaps, then we picked it out of the pile. Anything that offers extra value, a feature to stand out from the pack, upped the chances of making the list.
The Best Accredited Online MBAs with a Focus in Entrepreneurship
Keeping an eye to the future is exactly what you’ll have to do as an entrepreneur, so you want to learn how from a program that has got that figured out. You’ll definitely find the right choice somewhere in this list.
This list features programs that our editorial staff hand selected to present as top recommendations. We believe the many aspects of a program that come together to create an exceptional student experience can’t be reduced to numbers alone, so no formula was used to attempt to score or rank these programs. Instead, they represent our top picks based on a thoughtful review of the things we know mean the most to students. Each one of these programs offers something unique, and all come equally highly recommended. We stand behind the principal of editorial integrity and make these recommendations independently and without compensation.
Arkansas
Rankin College of Business
Magnolia, Arkansas
Website
MBA with Social Entrepreneurship Emphasis
Other Available Concentrations:
- Agri-Business
- Supply Chain Management
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online or on campus
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
Entrepreneurship is a skill that can be used in just about any field, but there has been an increasing emphasis in recent years on using those startup skills to not just do well, but also to do good. With an MBA with Social Entrepreneurship Emphasis from SAU, you get a head start on implementing that philosophy of pursing socially responsible goals using the solution-building, efficient skills that come from the business world. To build that skillset, SAU puts you through intensive courses in creativity and innovation, laying down the startup mindset on top of critical core accounting and economic knowledge. Because many social entrepreneurship startups are international in nature, you get an extra helping of international business and sustainable supply chain practices as well. Community organizing, developing, fundraising, and activism are other standout skills that you won’t find in any other entrepreneurship MBA program.
California
Crowell School of Business
La Mirada, California
Website
Master of Business Administration
- Accreditation: ACBSP
- Delivery: Hybrid
- Entrance exam requirement: None
- Alumni currently employed by industry leaders such as Kaiser Permanente, HP, Boeing, and Bank of America
- Strong mentorship program pairs you with a successful Christian businessperson for one-on-one coaching throughout the program
- An incomparable network of like-minded Christian students and graduates
Biola’s hybrid MBA program doesn’t have to offer a specific concentration in entrepreneurship: the sole focus of the entire program is on entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial approach to business. With tight biblical integration that builds scripture into modern teachings on ethics, theology, and other core business principles, you will learn how to do well by doing good. A strong emphasis on relationships means that you will start your career off with plenty of advice and assistance from other like-minded entrepreneurs.
District of Columbia – Washington, DC
Florida
College of Business & Management
Boca Raton, Florida
Website
MBA in Entrepreneurial Management
Other Available Concentrations:
- Aviation
- International Business
- Finance
- Healthcare Management
- Hospitality
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Media Management
- Sports Management
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online
- Entrance exam requirement: none
- Lynn’s iPad program, one of the most extensive of its kind in the nation, provides students with access to a vast array of valuable resources, including online text books
- University named as one of the ‘Most Innovative Schools’ in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
- Program features outstanding opportunities for real-world learning through in-class case studies, role plays, internships, and entrepreneurial contests
Whether you’re interested in taking advantage of the newest business innovations or you’re an emerging leader with an interest in developing a startup or existing business, Lynn University’s fully online MBA in Entrepreneurial Management is designed for you! In addition to a comprehensive MBA core, you’ll focus your MBA on financing entrepreneurial ventures, creating business plans, and introducing ideas into the marketplace through exciting, hands-on experiences that include in-class case studies, role plays, internships, and entrepreneurial contests! From launching innovative ideas into the marketplace to identify new business opportunities to exploring the culture of innovation in startups, the MBA in Entrepreneurial Management is where business professionals with a global mindset begin! Why should you study at Lynn? In addition to a truly innovative curriculum, you’ll benefit from Lynn’s iPad program, one of the most extensive programs of its kind in the nation. As a student here, you’ll receive an iPad upon admission and immediately begin to take advantage of the wealth of online resources available to you.
Georgia
Terry College of Business
Athens, Georgia
Website
MBA with Entrepreneurship Emphasis
Other Available Concentrations:
- Business Analytics
- Consulting Emphasis
- Finance
- FinTech Emphasis
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
- Risk Management
Related Programs:
STEM MBA
Professional MBA
Executive MBA
Engineering / MBA
JD / MBA
LLM / MBA
MPH / MBA
MD / MBA
PharmD / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Admissions Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Active MBA club participation required in one of the four available campus clubs: Graduate Business Association; Graduate Women’s Business Association; Net Impact; Terry Toastmasters
- Fifty hours of service volunteer work in respected charities and programs required for graduation
- Silicon Valley Advisory Council provides a high-tech tie-in for Terry programs
- An International Residency is incorporated into the program that can take you to destinations such as Shanghai, Buenos Aires, or Beijing
The University of Georgia MBA experience is like no other. While almost all programs talk about ethics, leadership, and service, Georgia’s Terry College of Business puts those qualities into the program in ways that are inescapable—required volunteer hours within the community will teach you the value of giving back, while club membership will pull you together tightly with fellow students and business leaders. In a field like entrepreneurship, this is particularly important. Your coursework won’t vary greatly from any core MBA curriculum, but your ability to appreciate the creative drive behind any successful business will come from more than the sum of your studies. The UG MBA program will build those into your professional persona in a way that will never fade.
Illinois
School of Business & Management
Chicago, Illinois
Website
MBA in Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Nonprofit Management
Related Programs:
MBA(on-campus*, hybrid)
*on-campus locations include:
- Chicago
- Elgin
- Lisle
- Skokie
- Wheeling
- Tampa, Florida
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online, on-campus*, hybrid
- Entrance exam requirement: Official Criterion Writing Assessment (taken within the last 5 years)
- Program features a comprehensive capstone—an opportunity to work with your peers to run a virtual company
- National Louis University ranked among the top 25 most diverse national universities by U.S. News & World Report
A fully online, focused program involving industry-oriented case studies and hands-on projects are the foundation of the rigorous and relevant curriculum of National Louis University’s MBA in Entrepreneurship. Pursue this program and you’ll not only receive a well-rounded course of study in effective communication, teamwork, ethical responsibility, and problem-solving, you’ll also gain a valuable foundation of knowledge in entrepreneurship, including the principles of authentic leadership and achieving a positive organizational impact. You’ll conclude your program with a comprehensive capstone—an opportunity to work with your peers to run a virtual company. You’ll also have full access to the Career Bridge, National Louis’s outstanding career services center that’ll help you do everything from prepare for an interview to craft the perfect resume.
Kansas
College of Business Administration
Manhattan, Kansas
Website
MBA with Technology Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Data Analytics
- Finance
- Management
- Marketing
Related Programs:
MBA + Hospitality Management
MBA + Master of Agribusiness
Bachelor of Science in Physics / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online or on campus
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Executive Mentor Program ties students together with successful and experienced executives in long-lasting professional relationships
- Technology Entrepreneurship Intern program provides students with real-world exposure to all aspects of technology development and venture creation
There are a lot of business schools that offer entrepreneurship concentrations in their MBA programs today. But the reality is that starting new businesses in different fields can face wildly different challenges and may require different skills in order to succeed. Technology is one of the hottest fields for startups today, with billions of dollars in venture capital floating around and new ideas flaring up and burning out on what seems like a weekly basis. So it only makes sense that if you plan to join or create a new high tech startup, you had best find an MBA program that will laser in on the special challenges you will face. K-State has you covered there with their technology entrepreneurship concentration. You will gain valuable exposure to the innovation and technology commercialization process. A dedicated tech internship program ensures that you will get a window into current high tech startups to learn the newest trends and techniques in an industry that can change overnight.
Maryland
Carey Business School
Baltimore, Maryland
Website
Flexible MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Financial Business
- Health Care Management
- Interdisciplinary Business
- Leading Organizations
- Marketing
- Real Estate and Infrastructure
Related Programs:
Global MBA
Master of Arts in Design Leadership / MBA
Master of Science in Applied Economics / MBA
Master of Science in Biotechnology / MBA
Master of Arts in Communication / MBA
Master of Arts in Government / MBA
Master of Public Health / MBA
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering / MBA
MD / MBA
JD / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- On-site class options in Baltimore and Washington D.C.
- Fifty percent female enrollment in the Carey Business School offers balanced and diverse student cohorts.
- Ranked #11 by U.S. News & World Report for Best Global Universities
- Students have gone on to employment at global organizations such as Accenture, Deloitte, Marriott, and the Department of Defense
Johns Hopkins prides itself on teaching business topics with humanity in mind. As a premiere global university in fields ranging from healthcare to international relations, that human touch is an important one. You won’t feel lost in the crowd at the Carey School, where every student has full access to the Student Success Center and Career Development Office as well as the highly qualified faculty. All of them share the goal of helping students realize their full potential and to find fulfilling careers… support that is vital in any entrepreneurship program. You’ll be taught how to walk the high-wire between building market share and managing burn rate, while juggling the realities of modern human resources requirements and the thorny problems of raising capital. Along the way, you’ll make important contacts with other students and current business leaders that will help you launch your next ground-breaking company.
Michigan
College of Business and Management
University Center, Michigan
Website
Online MBA with Concentration in Entrepreneurship
Related Programs:
Five-year Combined BBA/MBA option
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT
- Certificate in international business also available for a global entrepreneurial perspective
- Named as one of the Best Business Schools by The Princeton Review
SVSU’s entrepreneurship concentration takes you from inception to marketplace when it comes to building a new business. The program is competitive, with students required to submit a business plan for evaluation during their course of study. None of the bases are neglected when it comes to business concepts and operations; the MBA program overall gives you a comprehensive view of business entities and the tools it takes to analyze and manage them. Critical thinking and creativity are the watchwords of this program, which is great news from the entrepreneurial perspective—learning to think on your feet and come up with unorthodox solutions is where the startup game is won or lost. Get ready to win with an MBA from SVSU.
Minnesota
School of Business and Management
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Website
Online MBA in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Other Available Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resource Management
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Accreditation: ACBSP
- Delivery: Online
- Entrance exam requirement: None
- Traditional, fast-track, or competency-based course tracks available to fit your strengths and schedule
- Personal advisors help you navigate the program from enrollment to financing to academic standards and policies
- Study abroad options range from Scandinavia to the Caribbean for unparalleled exposure to local business practices and cultures
Walden actually offers two entrepreneurial specialization options to their master of business administration degree, which made it a tough choice over which to pick for the list. Both are great options that are above average, but in the end, the social entrepreneurship and innovation option won out over the small business concentration. Part of this is because of the dual-nature of the innovation focus… big businesses are also learning the value of operating with a startup mindset, and the innovation track gives you a set of skills you can use in the enterprise or on the ground in your own startup. But it’s the social aspect that really sold the program. This is a natural fit with Walden’s existing MBA emphasis on fostering an ability to work with others in diverse and complex business environments. Reasoning and ethical standards are also held in high regard in the core MBA program, something that the concentration builds on with additional coursework in critical thinking and change management. You’ll have open options in the non-profit or government world with courses available in grant writing, global perspectives on society and economics, and collaborative management systems.
New Jersey
School of Business
Lodi, New Jersey
Website
MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership
Related Programs:
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online, on-campus, hybrid
- Entrance exam requirement: GMAT scores may be requested if required to strengthen other application requirements
- MBA culminates in a capstone experience and portfolio that focuses on the challenges involved with the management of growth
- Outstanding opportunities for real-world advice and networking opportunities through Felician’s annual business symposium
- Optional study abroad opportunity in Dublin, Ireland, available to MBA students
Thirty-six credits and 20 months of study are all you need to earn your MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership through Felician University. This rigorous and comprehensive course of study features a solid MBA core that’s complemented with in-depth study in areas like corporate entrepreneurship and creativity, entrepreneurial leadership and strategy, economic reasoning, and more. You’ll round out your MBA with a capstone experience and portfolio that focuses on the challenges involved in the management of growth. Plus, as a student of Felician, you’ll have ample opportunities to learn from experts in business through the school’s annual business symposium. Want to add an international component to your MBA? Consider participating in Felician’s one-week study abroad program in Dublin, Ireland.
North Carolina
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Website
Online MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Strategy and Consulting Concentration
- Marketing
- Data Analytics and Decision-Making
- Finance
Related Programs:
Executive MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online or on-campus
- Admissions Requirement: GMAT, GRE, or waiver
- On numerous top lists including Forbes, The Princeton Review, and U.S. News & World Report
- Team-based teaching from world-renowned faculty members.
- Global Immersions experience offers three-day intensive on-site learning experiences in business around the globe, offered on a quarterly basis for your convenience
- Embed with and make connections at major corporations like Google, Virgin, ESPN, and Deloitte
- The Kenan Institute exposes students to genuine business issues and shows how academic theory is translated into real-world best practices
With an MBA in Entrepreneurship from UNC-Chapel Hill, you’re not just getting a piece of paper, or even a specialized set of business skills and knowledge for professional advancement: you’re getting a major course correction to your whole life. With a holistic educational approach that looks to build on your individual strengths, you’ll gain confidence and reasoning skills that will serve you in every aspect of your life. With a team-based learning approach in programs like ‘Student Teams Achieving Results’, ‘Global Business Projects’, and ‘Doing Business In’, you’ll forge valuable connections with fellow students that will last a lifetime. And like you, those students will be the cream of the crop—the program has high costs and high standards, and only the best can attend. And being the best is exactly what it takes to bring an idea from inception to IPO. You’ll get a first-rate general business education with the online MBA core curriculum, and then an extra layer of strategy, communication, and problem-solving skills through the entrepreneurship concentration.
Fuqua School of Business
Durham, North Carolina
Website
Global Executive MBA with Concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Other Available Concentrations:
- Energy and Environment
- Finance
- Marketing
- Strategy
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: On campus or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT, GRE, EA, or waiver
- Go through classes with a cohort of working professionals from around the world
- Intensive residencies bring cohorts together for focused learning events
Although the concentration is in innovation and entrepreneurship, you’re really almost getting two for one with this diverse program—you’ll learn new cultures and new business environments from classmates that come from around the world, giving the Global Executive MBA as much of an international business education as one in entrepreneurship! It’s not cheap, but it is Duke. You’ll leave with an MBA that will earn instant respect in any corporation worldwide and a network that will help you succeed regardless of the field you choose. There’s no better way to prepare for an entrepreneurial career path than to make the contacts you will need to get off the ground while receiving the education and skills to evaluate opportunities and develop innovative business concepts.
Poole College of Management
Raleigh, North Carolina
Website
Jenkins MBA with Concentration in Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC)
Other Available Concentrations:
- Biosciences Management
- Financial Management
- Innovation Management
- Marketing Management
- Supply Chain Management
Related Programs:
DVM / MBA
JD / MBA
Master of Accounting / MBA
Master of Industrial Engineering / MBA
Master of Microbial Biotechnology / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT, GRE, or waiver
- WolfeWare online learning management system combines Moodle, Blackboard, and other best-of-breed courseware for the ideal online learning experience
- Full access to Jenkins Career Management Center for job placement and career services
- Ranked #1 in Online MBA Programs for Delivery by the Financial Times in 2018
- NC State Entrepreneurship Collaborative is an on-campus resource providing a fertile environment for students and outside entrepreneurs to meet startup challenges through collaboration
If you’re studying entrepreneurship in this day and age, then chances are you are going to be studying technology entrepreneurship. IT is not only the cutting edge of new business opportunities, but it is also driving the business cycle even in traditional industries. So if you’re not enrolled in a program like NC State’s TEC concentration, you are already behind the curve. But if you are smart enough to get into TEC, you get the low-down on all the important aspects of creating a business in the modern world: intellectual property issues, venture capital and equity considerations, the evaluations of technological products. Even more importantly, you get the secret to step 3 on the traditional 4-step path to profits: commercializing the product. If technology isn’t your bag, there’s also a more traditional ENTR (entrepreneur) track to the concentration, but why spin your wheels?
Ohio
School of Business Administration
Cedarville, Ohio
Website
MBA – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Business Analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Healthcare Administration
- Operations Management
Other Available Programs:
Pharm.D. / MBA
- Accreditation: ACBSP
- Delivery: Online
- Entrance exam requirement: None
- Self-selected projects and simulation games allow highly focused, personalized study throughout the program
- Concentration is taught in partnership with the International Center for Creativity in Columbus, a national leader in innovation education
Recognizing that entrepreneurial skills—the financing, marketing, and managerial talent it takes to get a business off the ground—is only half the equation is what makes the Cedarville MBA specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship outstanding. You get all those skills, of course, together with the traditional MBA education in accounting, information technology, and strategic management, but on top of those you get a master course in innovation, taught by some of the best in the business: a partnership with the International Center for Creativity puts you on the front lines of design innovation, creativity, and sustainable business modeling. You’ll receive focused expertise in business modeling and new venture creation, emerging trends, and design thinking that will help hone your own creative skills to build a business that is actually worth getting off the ground.
Pennsylvania
School of Graduate Studies
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Website
MBA – Social Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Dietetics
- Digital Marketing
- Management
- Organizational and Strategic Communication
- Strategic Leadership
- Accreditation: ACBSP
- Delivery: Online
- Entrance exam requirement: None
- Instructors are composed of a group of outstanding scholars, researchers, and authors who are sought-after experts in their respective fields
As a school that conducts most of its graduate education entirely online, you know that you are getting both practiced and expert remote instruction through Messiah’s programs. Instructors have the experience and expertise to ensure that you get the most out of online classes, while maintaining the flexibility to take them when and where it’s most convenient for you. You’ll get the direct mentorship and support you need to make the most of the unique curriculum in social entrepreneurship. While there are hundreds of entrepreneurship concentrations available at MBA programs around the nation, Messiah’s is one that is uniquely aligned with the overarching goals of this Christian school: fostering business participation in producing quality goods and services that help solve societal challenges. By encouraging students to consider startup efforts in social spaces, the entrepreneurship concentration offers the tools and techniques required to create a scalable business that isn’t just economically successful, but also creates genuine social value.
Tepper School of Business
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Website
MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Communications
- Economics
- Ethics and Social Responsibility
- Finance
- Business Technologies
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Operations Research
- Organizational Behavior
- Strategy
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Rated the #14 Business School in the country by Bloomberg Businessweek
- Ranked the #1 Best Online MBA by Poets&Quants
- Ranked #2 Best Online MBA by U.S. News & World Report
- Track system offers a secondary way to focus your studies in addition to your program concentration
- CMU has helped launch more than 300 companies and create 9,000 jobs through entrepreneurial support in the past 15 years
When you see an MBA program that is ranked number 1 and 2 by two independent, highly respected rating sites, then you know going in that you are going to be looking at something unusual. In CMU’s case, that’s a groundbreaking curriculum structure that doesn’t bow to the old-fashioned model of squeezing every topic into a 3-credit, 1 semester class. Using mini-semesters and unique program structuring, CMU fits in every topic to exactly the right amount of time to teach it. Moreover, courses are scheduled to build on one another so you aren’t just getting random doses of data from class to class. The entrepreneurship concentration was one of the first in the country and is anchored in the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, which partners MBAs on business plans, venture capital, and startup market entry. If you take the option Entrepreneurship Track, you will also get a capstone focused on the essential elements of starting and running a business.
College of Business Administration and Information Sciences
Clarion, Pennsylvania
Website
MBA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Non-profit
Related Programs:
Pre-professional MBA 5-year combined bachelor program
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT, GRE, or waiver
- With a student body of only 5,200, individual attention is assured in the MBA program
- Study abroad and internship opportunities
- Entrepreneurial Leadership Center organization for supporting business startups
Clarion’s base MBA program is all about providing a solid basis in the business knowledge that every executive should be equipped with. Accounting, finance, and leadership are all part of the core curriculum module you will be required to complete. But the innovation and entrepreneurship builds on all those basics and offers a lot more. You will learn how businesses can transform and create breakthroughs that can change the entire nature of a market. You’ll learn successful strategies for capitalizing and growing new businesses, as well as planning to cope with limited resources and create exit strategies.
College of Business and Economics
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Website
Flex MBA with Corporate Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Finance
- International Business
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Management
Related Programs:
MBA & Engineering
MBA & Educational Leadership
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online, on campus, or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT, GRE, or waiver
- Named #6 on Poets & Quants Top Online MBA list
- Picked #19 by U.S. News & World Report for Best Online MBA Program
- The Dexter F. Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation offers inspirational and educational resources for the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers
Lehigh’s Corporate Entrepreneurship concentration in their highly respected MBA degree program offers a detailed dissection of the conception and creation of new corporate ventures. The concentration delivers a flexible but in-depth inspection of the risk and reward of startups. You’ll get exposure to information on business modeling, organization, market analysis, and financial forecasting that you’ll need to weigh the risks and rewards of entrepreneurial ventures. Instructors will talk you through the aspects of raising venture capital that you need to consider before turning over ownership stakes in your new baby. With a more solid core of concentration-centric courses than most specialty tracks, the concentration tacks on even more benefits with an array of electives that can take you deeper into entrepreneurial topics such as valuation, production infrastructure, and developing credit facilities that most other MBAs won’t even touch.
Division of Business
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Website
MBA in Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination
- Healthcare Administration
- Management
Related Programs:
MBA (on-campus, hybrid)
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online, on-campus, hybrid
- Entrance exam requirement: none
- Six start dates throughout the year allow you to begin the MBA at your convenience
- Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities provides a wealth of programs and resources for MBA students, including business plan development, entrepreneurial skills workshops, and more
- Classroom learning complemented with outstanding, hands-on learning activities
Home to the esteemed Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities, which was created to provide assistance to existing businesses in the community and region, Seton Hill University is committed to supporting entrepreneurs, so it’s no surprise that their MBA in Entrepreneurship is both rigorous and comprehensive. Upon acceptance into the program, you’ll immediately meet one-on-one with the Program Director, who will work with you to develop a learning plan that best meets your career goals. Throughout the program, the Program Director will also serve as your personal academic advisor, as will a dedicated faculty of Seton Hill career services professionals. As a student of the MBA in Entrepreneurship, you’ll complement classroom learning by analyzing high-profile business cases and scenarios of publicly traded companies and more. Throughout this comprehensive, fully online program, you’ll be supported by an esteemed faculty of experienced business professionals.
Rhode Island
Department of Business Studies & Economics
Newport, Rhode Island
Website
MBA in Entrepreneurial Enterprise
Other Available Concentrations:
- Cybersecurity Issues in Business
- Entrepreneurial Enterprise
- Health Care Administration and Management
- Nonprofit Management
- Social Ventures
Related Programs:
MBA (on-campus)
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online, on-campus
- Entrance exam requirement: none
- Outstanding student-to-faculty ratio of just 13:1
- Salve Regina University is just one of eight universities in the Western Hemisphere to receive an international Innovation Fund award to promote transnational institutional partnerships
- Outstanding academic and career resources offered through the Center for Student Development
Salve Regina University is where emerging business leaders like you turn for the best in graduate preparation for careers in today’s evolving business environment. Choose the MBA in Entrepreneurial Enterprise and you’ll dive deep into the intricacies of business plan development, strategic planning, and creative problem solving alongside a solid and rigorous MBA core. This 36-credit fully online course of study features everything you’d expect from an on-campus degree, including a dedicated and qualified faculty who serve not just as instructors but as mentors, providing you with career and networking advice and guiding you as you explore everything from business plan development to strategic planning. And the support doesn’t end there. As an online student, you’ll have access to the Center for Student Development, your connection to the best in student assistance and engagement.
Texas
Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business
Houston, Texas
Website
MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Energy
- Finance
- Health Care
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
- Strategic Management
Related Programs:
MBA / ME
MD / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: On campus or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Ranked in the Top 10 MBA Programs by Businessweek
- Multi-concentration option allows you to adopt more than one specialty track
- Global Field experience and Intersessions Abroad programs deliver mandatory, legitimate international study to every enrolled student
Rice has taken the training wheels off their online MBA@Rice program and put together an online MBA program that is as good or better than their full-time, on-campus offering. With mobile support, periodic Residential Intensive Learning Experiences to bring you together with your cohort in the real-world, and all the same international field experience, you don’t have to worry about diminishing returns with this hybrid degree program. With the entrepreneurship concentration, you’ll learn an essential framework for establishing, growing, and modeling a new business. That’s in line with just about any other entrepreneurship concentration in the country. But where Rice goes big is their multi-concentration option… you have the opportunity not only to learn the essential elements of business startups, but also the ability to dive into a particular market in which to kickstart that new business. A healthcare company? Energy services? Strategic management consulting? All those options and more are on the table in this one MBA program, making it a great first stop for entrepreneurs.
Acton School of Business
Abilene, Texas
Website
MBA in Entrepreneurship
- Accreditation: ACBSP
- Delivery: On campus or hybrid
- Entrance exam requirement: GMAT, waiver available
- Study Group organization helps prepare you for classes with intensive peer-review of each case
- Ranked #1 for Most Competitive Students by the Princeton Review for 6 years running
The Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship is based around Harvard-style case discussions and a cohort approach to business education. The experience is unique, with a dedicated campus in Austin devoted to the program. It’s highly tailored to students who are serious and motivated about opening their own business, as some 63 percent of graduates eventually do. You had better show up on day one prepared to hit the ground running, because instructors push hard and expect you to rise to their high standards. You’ll go at a break-neck pace covering hard-edged courses on every phase and aspect of the startup cycle, from the inception of opportunities to funding to launch to growth and valuation. Yet the program also has a softer side, one that explores inspiration and helps students find the calling that matches their skills and talents. It’s a serious program for the seriously motivated, and you’ll graduate with all the tools you need to meet your entrepreneurial dreams.
Virginia
Darden School of Business
Charlottesville, Virginia
Website
MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration
Other Available Concentrations:
- Asset Management/Sales & Trading
- Corporate Finance/Investment Banking
- Marketing
- Strategy Consulting
- Supply Chain Management
- Corporate Innovation
- Business Development and Growth
- Business Analytics
- Innovation for Sustainability
- Global Business
Related Programs:
Executive MBA
MSDS / MBA
JD / MBA
MD / MBA
Med / MBA
MPP / MBA
MPH / MBA
MA in Eastern Studies / MBA
MA in Government or Foreign Affairs / MBA
ME / MBA
MSN / MBA
PhD / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: On campus or hybrid
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Number one MBA program ranking in eight different ratings including U.S. News & World Report and The Economist
- More than 50 student clubs covering every interest and specialty area including Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital
- Number 1 ranked faculty by Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review
- Entrepreneurship program ranked 5th in the nation by The Princeton Review
- The university runs four major entrepreneurship contests annually and the Batten Endowment funds a large portfolio of co-curricular entrepreneurial activities
UV’s Darden school has ten great functional or theme concentrations and seven diverse industry specialty areas available for you. Out of all those, we picked the Entrepreneurship concentration as the best. Why? Because Darden practically oozes innovation out of its pores as a business school. Even in the general MBA program, faculty approach lesson with an entrepreneurial mindset, preaching innovation and problem-solving. The school hosts the i.lab Incubator to provide student start-ups with up to $10,000 in funding as well as professional and professorial support. The new IDEA course, teaching Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship in Action, gives students experience working on consequential real-world projects sponsored by corporations, non-profits, and government agencies to learn design thinking, agile project management, and other practical entrepreneurial skills. We could go on, but in short, if you get to the other side of a UV-Darden MBA without launching a business along the way, the problem is you, not them!
Washington
School of Business Administration
Spokane, Washington
Website
MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Finance
Related Programs:
JD / MBA
- Accreditation: AACSB
- Delivery: Online or on campus
- Entrance Exam Requirement: GMAT or GRE
- Generous scholarships can offer significant financial assistance for most students, resulting in an up to 50% discount
Jesuit universities are often known more for their rigorous academic standards than for their innovation. Gonzaga manages to upset that stereotype in two different directions at once with its unique MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship. Not only does the program focus on training students in the delicate art of creating strong and innovative new businesses, it does so with one of the most unexpected market sectors: American Indian reservations. Students learn all the common theory and techniques in advanced business skills such as economic and accounting analysis, but with a focus on the unique culture and history of Indian Country. Courses on understanding tribal leadership and tribal strategic management drive home the unique challenges and opportunities available to entrepreneurs creating startups on the rez. At the same time, forward looking courses in information systems and operations equip you to build the kind of company that will thrive in any region of the world.
Wisconsin
Batterman School of Business
Mequon, Wisconsin
Website
MBA Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Other Available Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Communications and Public Relations
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Healthcare Administration
- International Business
- Management
- Management Information Systems (STEM)
- Nonprofit Management
- Public Administration
- Risk Assessment and Management
- Sport and Entertainment Business
- Strategic Marketing
- Sustainability Management and Analytics (STEM)
Related Programs:
MBA (on-campus*)
MBA/PharmD
*In addition to the main campus, student can take in-person courses at eight satellite locations:
- Appleton
- Beloit
- Green Bay
- Kenosha
- Madison
- Midtown
- Miller Park Way
- Waukesha
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Delivery: Online, on-campus*
- Entrance exam requirement: none
- Manageable and convenient, eight-week courses accommodate busy professionals
- Valuable opportunities to study abroad in places like China or Austria
- Outstanding technical and academic support through the Information Technology Office and Career Services
In less than two years, you’ll go from student to MBA grad through Concordia University – Wisconsin’s MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Offered fully online for working professionals like you, this program features a solid MBA core…manageable, eight-week courses…a faculty of industry experts…and even opportunities to study abroad in places like China or Austria. Plus, you’ll study with a diverse group of like-minded peers while you dive deep in areas like strategic innovation, sustainability, and creative problem-solving. You’ll also enjoy the best support and guidance as an online student, thanks to the Information Technology Office and Career Services.
