The Best Master's in Entrepreneurship Programs for 2026

The University of Washington's Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, run through the Foster School of Business, is a one-year, full-time immersive program the school describes as combining the best of an accelerator and an MBA. Students develop a startup idea, build and test a minimum viable product, and pitch it, with the curriculum built around pitch clinics, mentor co-working sessions, and competitions plugged into Seattle's startup ecosystem. The school reports its MS Entre teams have earned $567,000 in competition prize money and that Princeton Review ranked it #4 among UW's graduate entrepreneurship programs in 2025.

UW carries a Hakia Score of 94.5, with an 85% graduation rate and a 39% admit rate, relatively accessible admission odds. Tuition runs $11,869 for Washington residents versus $42,105 for out-of-state students, a $30,236 difference for the same one-year credential. That mix, a shorter timeline than most MBA-style programs, a comparatively open admit rate, and a steep resident discount, fits a Washington-based founder who wants to build a venture in one year without leaving the Seattle ecosystem the program leans on for mentors and competitions.

Syracuse's Whitman School runs the M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE), a 30-credit, on-campus program built around four concentration tracks: New Venture, Social, Family and Corporate. Students work out of the Couri Hatchery and Blackstone LaunchPad incubators and can compete for funding in the Panasci Business Plan Competition, which awarded $40,000 to student founders in 2026. The degree runs on three timelines: a 9-month full course load, a 16-month track that adds a summer internship, or a 21-month part-time path.

At $2,086 per credit, the 30-credit curriculum works out to $62,580 in tuition, close to Syracuse's published $63,710 rate for the program; the school charges one flat rate regardless of residency. Syracuse posts an 84% graduation rate and admits 46% of applicants, a middle-of-the-pack bar for this list. That mix of track choice, startup infrastructure and completion rate earns a Hakia Score of 92.3, ranking #5 nationally among master's in entrepreneurship programs. It suits a student who wants a fast, track-specific residential program and can absorb full private tuition.

The University of Florida's Warrington College of Business offers the Thomas S. Johnson Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, a 32-credit-hour, on-campus program delivered in 7-week modules (6-week in summer) that runs one year full-time or two years part-time. No GMAT or GRE is required to apply. Students complete three required field experiences, work out of the Gator Hatchery incubator, and travel to Silicon Valley, Austin or Boulder as part of the curriculum. The school reports a #8 ranking among U.S. public university graduate entrepreneurship programs and #26 nationally, per U.S. News & World Report's 2024 rankings.

UF posts a 91% graduation rate, one of the highest on this list, against a 24% admit rate, a tight bar. IPEDS lists the university's in-state graduate tuition at $4,477 versus $25,694 out-of-state, a $21,217 gap. Warrington's own program cost sheet itemizes the one-year degree separately at $17,040 for Florida residents and $46,377 for non-residents, which the school reports as 76% and 45% below the average among similarly ranked programs. That combination of a high completion rate, selective admissions and public-school pricing produces a Hakia Score of 91.6, ranking #6 nationally. It fits a student who wants the most selective, highest-completion option here without paying private-school tuition.

Loyola Marymount's College of Business Administration offers the M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation, a 36-unit hybrid program combining on-campus and online asynchronous coursework, held on weeknights. Full-time students finish in 12 months; part-time students take 24. The program opens with a week-long intensive on creativity, innovation and design methodology, then runs through the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship toward a capstone in which students either prepare to launch their own venture or work with a corporate partner on a strategic initiative. One 2024 graduate, cited on the program's own page, credits the degree with consulting work for four companies during her time in the program.

LMU reports a 79% graduation rate and a 45% admit rate, and lists total program tuition at $60,970; the school charges one flat rate regardless of residency. Its own figures show 80% of LMU graduate business students receive scholarships, an average graduate class size of 13, and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. That combination of small classes, a sustainability-focused curriculum and flexible scheduling earns a Hakia Score of 90.5, ranking #7 nationally. It fits a working professional who needs evening or asynchronous flexibility and can weigh strong scholarship odds against a $60,970 sticker price.

Texas A&M's Department of Management offers the Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership, a 36-credit-hour, non-thesis program built around conceiving, exploiting and managing opportunities. Core entrepreneurship coursework covers Practical Issues in Entrepreneurship, Foundations of Entrepreneurship, Strategic Entrepreneurship, and Innovation and Tech Commercialization, paired with electives in negotiations, organizational change, project management, leadership and strategic management. The university catalog confirms the program is approved for delivery via asynchronous or synchronous distance education technology, alongside its on-campus format.

Texas A&M posts an 84% graduation rate and admits 57% of applicants, a relatively open admissions bar. In-state tuition runs $9,092 against $36,169 out-of-state, a $27,077 gap that makes residency status the single biggest cost variable. That access, paired with its distance-delivery option and a campus-wide enrollment of over 78,000 students, earns a Hakia Score of 90.3, ranking #8 nationally. It fits a working professional in Texas who wants a rigorous, non-thesis entrepreneurship degree without relocating to College Station.

Illinois Tech's Master of Technological Entrepreneurship (M.A.S.) runs out of the Stuart School of Business in downtown Chicago, drawing on the Institute of Design and Chicago-Kent College of Law as well. The 30-credit degree puts real weight behind its capstone: 9 to 12 of those credits go toward a hands-on project where students build a startup, commercialize a technology, or run an innovation project inside an existing company. Classes meet evenings (6 to 8 p.m.) and Saturdays at the Chicago campus, and students can go full-time or part-time. Admission skips the GMAT and GRE, requiring only a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a one-page statement of purpose.

Hakia scores the program 85.7, good for #9 nationally among entrepreneurship master's degrees. Illinois Tech admits 55% of applicants and graduates 75% of its students, a mid-tier selectivity level that fits its STEM-heavy applicant pool. As a private nonprofit, IIT charges one flat rate, $50,636 a year, whether you live in Illinois or arrive from out of state, so there is no residency penalty to plan around like at a public school. That price sits well above the public options on this list; the tradeoff is guaranteed access to the Elevate initiative's internships and mentoring, on a campus of 8,834 students.

USF's MS in Entrepreneurship in Applied Technologies is a 30-credit interdisciplinary degree from the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, covering opportunity recognition, technology assessment, product commercialization, and new venture financing. Courses run in the evening on the Tampa campus, with some sections online, and the program can be finished in a concentrated 12 months with the right advising, though most students take one to two years. It stacks as a dual degree with the MBA or with engineering, biotechnology, and global sustainability programs. Admission calls for a GMAT of 550 or higher (or equivalent GRE), waived for applicants with a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or better, and the program carries AACSB International accreditation.

Hakia scores the program 85.0, ranking it #10 nationally. USF admits just 43% of applicants, the most selective school on this list, yet still graduates 77% of its students. The bigger number is cost: in-state tuition is $4,559 a year against $15,473 out of state, a $10,914 gap. Finish the 30 credits in a single 12-month push at the in-state rate and total tuition lands under $5,000, a fraction of the $123,835 national median salary the BLS reports for top executives. A highly selective program at a public-school price is what separates USF's value from pricier private options like Illinois Tech.

UT Dallas's Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship runs through the Naveen Jindal School of Management's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), which has operated for more than 15 years. It is built for two audiences: people launching their own venture and people leading innovation inside an existing company. Coursework covers entrepreneurial business models, financial frameworks, opportunity validation, and pitching, and the IIE layers on pitch competitions, accelerators, and a mentor and investor network across North Texas. The school reports a No. 13 national ranking and a No. 3 Southwest regional ranking from The Princeton Review for 2026.

Hakia scores the program 84.9, ranking it #11 nationally. UT Dallas admits 65% of applicants, the least selective school on this list, and graduates 76%. Tuition is where residency matters most: $10,639 a year in-state versus $36,139 out of state, a $25,500 gap that roughly triples the cost for non-Texans. A resident finishing the two-year program pays around $21,278 total, under a fifth of the $123,835 national median salary the BLS reports for top executives; an out-of-state student paying the full two-year rate, about $72,278, needs closer to seven months of that same salary just to cover tuition.

South Carolina's Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurial Engineering M.S. targets engineering and science majors who want a nontechnical path into management or their own startup, and the school markets it as the first in-state graduate program to blend technical and business training this way. It runs as a one-year degree anchored by a six-credit-hour Entrepreneurial Laboratory, a supervised hands-on experience in technology innovation and engineering entrepreneurship, plus new-venture creation projects through the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise. Classes are taught by faculty alongside working entrepreneurs and investors from the private sector.

Hakia scores the program 84.8, ranking it #12 nationally. South Carolina admits 60% of applicants and graduates 79% of its students, a strong completion rate for this list. In-state tuition runs $12,288 a year against $35,898 out of state, a $23,610 gap. Because the degree is built to finish in one year, an in-state student's full tuition bill comes to just under 10% of the $123,835 national median salary the BLS reports for top executives, a fast payback for engineers pivoting into venture leadership. The tradeoff: it assumes an engineering or science background coming in, not a general business one.

Temple University is a public institution in Philadelphia, PA. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with an 80.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 75% of its students, above the 74% average across the ranked schools. Temple University admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, Temple University charges $21,989 a year in-state, versus $37,789 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $43,978 in tuition for residents, against $75,578 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. The spread makes the program a clearer value for PA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

The University of Tampa is a private, nonprofit institution in Tampa, FL. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with a 79.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 64% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. The University of Tampa admits 40% of applicants, more selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, The University of Tampa charges $32,096 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $64,192 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Hult International Business School is a private, nonprofit institution in Cambridge, MA. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #15 of the 25 analyzed here with a 78.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 67% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. Hult International Business School admits 60% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Hult International Business School charges $53,448 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $106,896 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Cedarville University is a private, nonprofit institution in Cedarville, OH. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #16 of the 25 analyzed here with a 78.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 73% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. Cedarville University admits 65% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, Cedarville University charges $36,950 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $73,900 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

University of Houston is a public institution in Houston, TX. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with a 76.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 65% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. University of Houston admits 74% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, University of Houston charges $8,685 a year in-state, roughly 2.5x the $21,515 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $17,370 in tuition for residents, against $43,030 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Charlotte, NC, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program lands at #18 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 75.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 69% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. University of North Carolina at Charlotte admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of North Carolina at Charlotte charges $3,812 a year in-state, roughly 5x the $19,065 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $7,624 in tuition for residents, against $38,130 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Dickinson State University is a public institution in Dickinson, ND. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with a 75.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 51% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. Dickinson State University admits 37% of applicants, more selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,410 students.

On cost, Dickinson State University charges $7,470 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $14,940 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Brooklyn, NY, St. Francis College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program lands at #20 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 75.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 55% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. St. Francis College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%. The university enrolls 4,567 students overall.

On cost, St. Francis College charges $28,425 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $56,850 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 4x the program's annual in-state tuition. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

University of Arizona is a public institution in Tucson, AZ. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with a 74.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 68% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. University of Arizona admits 86% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, University of Arizona charges $11,835 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $38,165 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $23,670 in tuition for residents, against $76,330 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Westcliff University is a private, for-profit institution in Irvine, CA. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #22 of the 25 analyzed here with a 73.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 62% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. Westcliff University admits 73% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, Westcliff University charges $17,520 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $35,040 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

University of Utah is a public institution in Salt Lake City, UT. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #23 of the 25 analyzed here with a 73.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 65% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. University of Utah admits 86% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, University of Utah charges $8,461 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $29,701 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $16,922 in tuition for residents, against $59,402 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

California Lutheran University is a private, nonprofit institution in Thousand Oaks, CA. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with a 73.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 70% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. California Lutheran University admits 76% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, California Lutheran University charges $51,750 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $103,500 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

DePaul University is a private, nonprofit institution in Chicago, IL. Its Master's in Entrepreneurship program ranks #25 of the 25 analyzed here with a 73.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 83.1 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 68% of its students, below the 74% average across the ranked schools. DePaul University admits 76% of applicants, less selective than the 55% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 51% to 97%.

On cost, DePaul University charges $44,601 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $89,202 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $3,812 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to $63,710 at Syracuse University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,835 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.