by our College Data Analytics TeamEntrepreneurs are creative and industrious individuals who have the drive and ability to start up and run their own business. Being an entrepreneur means you are your own boss and make all the decisions. If this sounds like your dream job, a degree in Entrepreneurial Studies is an excellent way to begin. This program will teach you how to build and promote your own business. Students in this major will learn how marketing and management functions associated with owning and running their business.
Some of the concentrations available are Franchise Operations and Small Business Administration/Management. While majoring in Entrepreneurial Studies, you will take courses in Investor relations and funding, Business Ethics, Leadership and Organization, Human Resource Management, Small Business Management, and Accounting. This major is commonly offered as a Bachelors, but some institutions offer it as an Associate's degree.
Studying Entrepreneurial Studies explores Entrepreneurial And Small Business Operations. Continue reading for the essential details every entrepreneurial studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering entrepreneurial studies programs.
Nationwide, entrepreneurial studies draws strong interest, with 14,306 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Entrepreneurial Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 728 schools to determine the best overall colleges for entrepreneurial studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of entrepreneurial studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Entrepreneurial Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations entrepreneurial studies graduates commonly enter.
Individuals who are highly motivated and self-starters are often found in this major. You will be the leader to a group of employees and their performance will determine if you successes or fail, therefore the ability to motivate and lead other is an important skill to possess. In order to be successful in this major you must be innovative and persistent. The ability to think of new ideas and solutions is crucial to compete with others in the marketplace.
In order to prepare for this major, students are advised to take courses in Statistics, Business, Microeconomics, Accounting, and Calculus. After completing a Bachelor's students may also have the option to continue to the Master's or Doctorate level.
Skills built by a entrepreneurial studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a entrepreneurial studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several entrepreneurial studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 851 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 967 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,597 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,532 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to entrepreneurial studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.6% |
| Master’s degree | 22.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in entrepreneurial studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates with a degree in Entrepreneurial Studies can do a few different things in terms of careers. While some graduates go onto start their own business, you can also find work as a Business Manager, Human Resources Manager, Management Analyst, and Top Executive.
Studying entrepreneurial studies prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to entrepreneurial studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to entrepreneurial studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 403,205 | 4.2% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | 320,819 | 2.9% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of entrepreneurial studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,538 |
| 4 years | $61,024 |
| 5 years | $67,263 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for entrepreneurial studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers entrepreneurial studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Spa Managers | $143,396 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
With 728 different entrepreneurial studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased entrepreneurial studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering entrepreneurial studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies | 10,661 |
| Small Business Administration/Management | 3,118 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other | 437 |
| Social Entrepreneurship | 77 |
| Franchising and Franchise Operations | 13 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 402,942 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 81,835 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 62,236 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 57,976 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 57,564 |
| Marketing | 53,750 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 25,424 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 16,153 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,333 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,092 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
