Lure of Entrepreneurship –- Prepare to Be The Boss

Students who hope to be entrepreneurs have two options, according to the December 2018 issue of Entrepreneur magazine.  They can start their own business and learn as they go, or they can attend a college with a strong program in entrepreneurship.  Those who choose the latter route should carefully research their options, as there are many programs with an extremely impressive track record.

The University of Michigan is ranked  #1 by Entrepreneur due to the strength of its “Center for Entrepreneurship.”  The University has more than 4,500 students enrolled its 68 entrepreneur-related courses.  Most impressively, its graduates in the past five years raised $20 million to launch more than 800 startups.

The University of Houston is ranked #2 due to the success of the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship.  All of its faculty members have entrepreneurial experience to share with its 2,300 students.  As for the success of its graduates, in the past five years they have raised $57 million to launch close to 500 startups.

Closer to home, two Massachusetts schools earned high honors from Entrepreneurship. Babson College ranked 3rd and Northeastern University ranked 5th. In between was Brigham Young University in Utah.  

Other colleges and universities, popular with New Jersey students, that ranked in the Top 25 undergraduate programs for entrepreneurs include University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, Miami University, UNC at Chapel Hill, Syracuse University and Drexel University.

The entrepreneurship programs at these schools are known to teach students the skills they need to become startup founders and future CEOs.  They also provide opportunities for students to learn from professors who themselves are successful entrepreneurs, and to spend their college years with a peer group of similarly-minded students. 

Among the college courses invaluable to aspiring entrepreneurs are: “Strategic Problem Solving” at Babson, “Dynamics of the Family Firm” and “Launch It!” at Drexel, and “Social Entrepreneurship in Action” at Syracuse University.

Students who hope to be their own boss one day have a choice of many impressive institutions that can set them on the path to success.

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.