by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 541 U.S. colleges awarded 11,107 degrees and certificates in Entrepreneurship. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 205 schools in its 2027 Best Entrepreneurship Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $53,298 one year after completing, rising to $68,789 after four years.
A major in Entrepreneurship involves the study of Entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial Studies. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Perform Development, Marketing And Management Functions Associated With Owning And Operating A Business.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, entrepreneurship is a widely-pursued major, with 11,107 degrees awarded annually. 541 colleges award entrepreneurship degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 581.
By level, the 11,107 awards include 541 certificates, 494 associate degrees, 4,350 bachelor’s degrees, 5,645 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 49% of entrepreneurship degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,470 of 11,107). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,638) and Hispanic or Latino (1,695), and international students earned 743.
College Factual ranks 205 schools in its 2027 Best Entrepreneurship Schools ranking, including 17 for associate degrees, 105 for bachelor’s degrees and 20 for master’s degrees. It also ranks entrepreneurship schools within 41 states. In all, 541 colleges offer entrepreneurship programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Entrepreneurship Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common entrepreneurship credential is the master’s degree: 5,645 of the 11,107 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to entrepreneurship call most for Critical Thinking, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an entrepreneurship degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 541 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 494 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,350 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,645 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to entrepreneurship, at 41.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.1% |
| Master’s degree | 28.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Entrepreneurship, with an average median salary of $119,426; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Publication Director, Program Manager, Gym Manager and Laundry Superintendent.
The occupation related to entrepreneurship with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
Entrepreneurship graduates earn a median $53,298 one year after completing their program, $68,789 after four years and $68,562 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,298 |
| 4 years | $68,789 |
| 5 years | $68,562 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to entrepreneurship is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | $96,628 |
Entrepreneurship has 4 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 3,981 degrees a year; the largest are Small Business Administration/Management (3,326), Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other (524) and Social Entrepreneurship (113). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Small Business Administration/Management | 3,326 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other | 524 |
| Social Entrepreneurship | 113 |
| Franchising and Franchise Operations | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
