by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 729 U.S. colleges awarded 15,088 degrees and certificates in Entrepreneurial Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 271 schools in its 2027 Best Entrepreneurial Studies 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.
Entrepreneurs 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, entrepreneurial studies draws strong interest, with 15,088 degrees awarded annually. 729 colleges award entrepreneurial studies degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 589.
By level, the 15,088 awards include 885 certificates, 1,045 associate degrees, 4,898 bachelor’s degrees, 8,133 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 51% of entrepreneurial studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,741 of 15,088). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (7,235) and Hispanic or Latino (2,760), and international students earned 971.
College Factual ranks 271 schools in its 2027 Best Entrepreneurial Studies Schools ranking, including 33 for associate degrees, 120 for bachelor’s degrees and 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks entrepreneurial studies schools within 43 states. In all, 729 colleges offer entrepreneurial studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Entrepreneurial Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common entrepreneurial studies credential is the master’s degree: 8,133 of the 15,088 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to entrepreneurial studies call most for Speaking, Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
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.
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How long an entrepreneurial studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 885 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,045 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,898 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,133 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to entrepreneurial studies, at 46.6%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Entrepreneurial Studies, with an average median salary of $121,434; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Gym Manager, Fish and Game Club Manager, Program Manager and Laundry Superintendent.
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.
The occupation related to entrepreneurial studies 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% |
| 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% |
Entrepreneurial Studies 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 entrepreneurial studies is Personal Service Managers, All Other, with a median salary of $176,674.
| 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 |
Entrepreneurial Studies includes 5 concentrations that together award 15,088 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies (11,107), Small Business Administration/Management (3,326) and Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other (524). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 869,061 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies | 11,107 |
| Small Business Administration/Management | 3,326 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other | 524 |
| Social Entrepreneurship | 113 |
| Franchising and Franchise Operations | 18 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,764 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
