Do you see yourself starting a business (or many businesses!) and spearheading other creative ventures in your career? An online entrepreneurship degree can set you up for a future fueled by innovation, leadership, and inspiring others to fulfill their entrepreneurial visions. But finding the best education takes time and research. Not to worry: To help you narrow the field, we’ve created this guide featuring the best online entrepreneurship bachelor’s degree programs based on the quality of programs they offer, the student support that’s available, and overall cost. Checkout the entire list of 2024’s top online entrepreneurship programs in our college rankings below.
Best Online Entrepreneurship Bachelors Degrees in 2024
We have ranked the top schools below. Our Rankings Data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES.) Click the About the Ranking link below for more information about our methodology.
- Create List of Eligible Schools and Programs
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Assign Weightings
- Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education. Because exact numbers change often and can be difficult to verify, we use a range-based scoring system: 0-5 online programs = 1 star; 6-10 = 2 stars; 11-15 = 3 stars; 16-20 = 4 stars; 21+ = 5 stars. In our design, laptop icons = stars.
- For degree-specific pages, ex: Psychology degrees, we list the current number of online programs available at that school for that degree type, as self-reported by the schools.
- Cost – Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
- Students w/ Institutional Aid – Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.
- Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
- Career Placement – Existence of this service on campus or online.
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Greensboro, NCPublic $
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) offers both in-person and online options for their Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship degree, which includes both a foundation in entrepreneurship and a variety of elective and specialization options. This degree, the largest entrepreneurship program in North Carolina and winner of multiple awards, prepares you to begin a career in the world of business. In addition to traditional classwork, you’ll be required to complete an internship as a capstone experience. UNCG will help match you with a business to intern with.
Program Highlights:
BS in Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 120
- Length: Four years
- Cost: $7,593/year (in-state), $23,339/year (out-of-state)
- Mode: In-person, online
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
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Columbia, MOPrivate not-for-profit $$
Columbia College’s ACBSP-accredited Bachelor’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is available online, in-person at their Missouri campus, or in a hybrid or evening form — whichever works best for you. Once enrolled, you’ll study the foundations of business, including business ethics, small business management, human resources, international business, and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to declare a minor in a related field. Financial aid and support for students in the military are available.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 120
- Length: Four years
- Cost: $375/credit (online), $13,153/semester (in-person)
- Mode: In-person, online, hybrid
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
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Mount Pleasant, MIPublic $$
The bachelor’s program in entrepreneurship at Central Michigan University (CMU) is designed for accessibility, whether you’re studying online, in-person, as a freshman, or as a transfer student. In this program, you’ll combine both traditional classroom study with practical experiences, including an internship and participating in the annual CMU New Venture Competition, where you may be awarded a grant for a new business idea. Financial aid is available, including two entrepreneurship-specific CMU scholarship opportunities.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 21-48
- Length: Four years
- Cost: $458/credit
- Mode: In-person, online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Tahlequah, OKPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Beaumont, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profit $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profit $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
10/1
or
Base Methodology for OnlineColleges.me’s 2024 Online College Rankings
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
After creating the list of eligible schools, OnlineColleges.me data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability metrics. Online program availability and overall affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings.
Online Program Availability
Affordability
Support Services
About Our Data
OnlineColleges.me’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: January of 2024
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Whether you want to start your own business or land an executive position at a nonprofit or corporation, the University of North Carolina, Greensboro’s online entrepreneurship degree is designed to give you the skills you’ll need. This program stands out through its emphasis on hands-on learning. For example, students participate in projects working directly with business leaders to get a glimpse of how professionals solve real-world problems. The school also requires that students sign up for an internship and has formed partnerships with businesses to help connect graduates with future employment opportunities.
In addition, students can choose classes from several entrepreneurship categories to become experts in specific areas — such as social, health care, creative industry, and family business entrepreneurship. Thanks to the education UNC Greensboro provides, students have gone on to become business owners, creative designers, business analysts, and consultants.
Program Highlights:
- Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $232 per credit in-state | $863.63 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (Institutional); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (Programmatic)
Lynn University
When you enroll in the online entrepreneurship degree program at Lynn University, you can rest assured you’ll get the attention you deserve to receive a quality education. That’s because the student-teacher ratio for all online courses is 18:1, so you never have to worry about getting lost in the shuffle — even in the distance learning environment. To give students the foundation they need to reach their career goals, Lynn University’s online entrepreneurship program has coursework that covers business strategy, marketing principals, innovation, and business analytics. General education classes also are required, such as English composition, personal finance, critical thinking and writing, and computer applications.
Lynn University further invests in student achievement by providing a success manager who offers guidance through the entire degree program, so students receive onboarding, course registration, and academic assistance. Career services are also offered to help ensure students get a leg up in their job hunt after graduation.
Program Highlights:
- Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $375 per credit in-state | $375 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission (Institutional); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (Programmatic)
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University offers a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship that provides an understanding of intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial skills and theories. As a result of this focus, students leave the program with expertise in how to identify internal and external opportunities, and how innovation is used to drive businesses forward. The curriculum includes business core classes in financial accounting, applied statistics, macroeconomics, and strategic management, as well as entrepreneurship classes covering new venture creation and execution, business funding, and innovation and creativity.
Online students can manage their experience through the school’s myWCU portal, where they register for courses, review financial aid information, and access student services. Also, students participate in courses and complete assignments, as well as receive distance learning orientation, through the Canvas learning management system. If anyone needs technical support, they can conveniently contact Western Carolina University’s help desk.
Students select one specialization to focus their studies, which includes:
Program Highlights:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Innovation Leadership and Entrepreneurship
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $65.81 per credit in-state | $232.47 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (Institutional); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (Programmatic)
What You’ll Learn in Your Online Entrepreneurship Degree Program
When you enroll in an entrepreneur school online, you learn about the nuts and bolts of filling a leadership role at an organization — whether you’re building your own startup or working for an established company. By covering business topics such as management, mergers and acquisitions, business law, operations, and sales, you’re able to prepare for your career path, as well as position yourself to earn any required certifications and licenses. Also, to provide a well-rounded education that sharpens your overall skills, these programs have general education requirements, including classes in written and verbal communication, mathematics, and science.
Main Topics Covered
- Small business customer service
- Management and leadership
- Principles of finance and economics
- International business
- Principles of marketing
- Creativity and innovation
- Business analytics
- Business consulting
- Venture scaling excellence
Years 1 and 2 (Lower Division Coursework)
During the first two years of an online entrepreneurship degree program, students take classes that cover the fundamentals of business, so they create a framework to understand more advanced concepts that will be introduced later in the program. These courses cover the basics that all professionals are expected to know when they enter the workforce, as well as skills students will take with them for their entire career. The following is a look at some of these classes.
Common Courses
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship: This course provides a student’s first glimpse into entrepreneurship and familiarizes them with basic principles that explain the role of entrepreneurs in the business world. The course covers how these ventures are created from conception to execution, as well as how leaders run their companies.
- Small Business Leadership: Students in this class learn the basics of running a small business to gain an understanding of the many hats small business owners wear on a daily basis. Course topics may include employee relations, business law and regulations, and marketing.
- Principles of Microeconomics: This class covers the basic tenets of microeconomics and may include coverage of distribution, price theory, and market structures.
- Idea Generation: Successful entrepreneurs always need to keep their eyes open for potential business opportunities, and this course teaches students how to generate ideas for future ventures. In addition, the class discusses steps entrepreneurs take after coming up with solid new business ideas.
- Business Analytics: Students learn how data is used in order to make business decisions. The class covers regression models, business forecasting, and decision analysis.
Years 3 and 4 (Upper Division Coursework)
The last two years of online entrepreneurship programs are designed to build on the earlier curriculum foundations while diving deeper into more advanced concepts. In addition, if students have the opportunity to choose a concentration, the upper division curriculum will include coursework that allows them to focus on a specific entrepreneurship topic. The following are examples of courses that may be found in the later years of the program.
Common Courses
- Entrepreneurial Funding: In this course, students get a look at how entrepreneurs receive funding, and how it’s used once they get it. Students may learn about financial reporting, cash management, capital formation, and capital management.
- Virtual Small Businesses: With the rise of e-commerce and e-business, a physical location is no longer needed to become an entrepreneur. This class teaches students how to open a virtual business, launch a website, and build a brand that brings in customers.
- Social Entrepreneurship: This class provides a look at how entrepreneurs are creating social mission-driven businesses to create change in society. Students learn how to generate ideas and open and operate a new social business.
- Financial Management: Students in this course learn how entrepreneurs handle money to run their businesses effectively and efficiently. Specific topics may include budgeting, financial analysis, and capital acquisition.
- Business Planning: Students in this class learn how to create solid business plans that will be the blueprint for success. To provide an understanding of this process, the course discusses how each portion of a business plan is created and executed, from operations to marketing to competitive analysis.
What It Takes to Get Into a Top Online Entrepreneurship School
Schools that offer entrepreneurship programs online each have different standards for admissions, so it’s important to review the requirements for each program you’re interested in. Generally, schools require that undergraduate students have a high school diploma or its equivalent, at least a 2.0 grade point average, and a minimum score on the SAT or ACT.
However, there may be some expectations that are specific to a school. For example:
- Lynn University requires applicants to submit a personal essay explaining their education and career goals, as well as why they want to earn a degree online and attend the school specifically.
- Prospective students who apply to DeVry University are required to participate in an interview with an admissions counselor during the application process.
- Franklin University may require that applicants complete English, math, and writing placement tests that are administered by the school.
Online Entrepreneurship Degree Costs and Financial Aid
The cost of education is a huge consideration for those interested in an entrepreneur school online. There are several factors that can influence how much you will pay for your degree program; however, online schools usually charge somewhere between $200 and $900 per credit hour. The exact rates for tuition depend on whether a school is a public or private institution, as well as if you’re attending as an in-state resident or an out-of-state student. To get an idea of what specific schools charge for their tuition, review the table below.
| School Name | School Type | Total Credits | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin University | Private not-for-profit | 124 | $398/credit | $398/credit |
| DeVry University | Private for-profit | 120 | $514/credit | $514/credit |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Private not-for-profit | 120 | $320/credit | $320/credit |
| Lynn University | Private not-for-profit | 120 | $375/credit | $375/credit |
| Western Carolina University | Public | 120 | $65.81/credit | $232.47/credit |
Although the cost of higher education can add up quickly, you don’t have to let that stop you from achieving your goals. There are several financial aid options available to students pursuing online entrepreneurship degrees, including loans, scholarships, and grants that may be provided by the federal or state government, as well as private companies and professional organizations.
In addition, you may be able to find scholarships from the school you attend. Colleges may offer scholarships to all students generally or to those in business degree programs specifically. For example, Franklin University’s Undergraduate Scholars Program provides merit-based awards of $500 to $2,000 to students of any major, while DeVry University’s Business Edge Scholarship offers $300 to $600 per semester for students enrolled in business-related degree programs.
FAQs About Online Entrepreneurship Bachelor’s Degrees
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Can I earn my entrepreneurship degree programs completely online?
Yes, you can generally complete an entrepreneurship degree program completely online. However, be sure to look at the requirements for specific schools because this is not always the case. For example, a program may offer all of its coursework virtually, but you may be expected to participate in an internship to deepen your understanding of the concepts you learned in class. Also, some programs may combine online and on-campus learning, so if you feel comfortable traveling to campus at times, the hybrid format may be a good choice for you.
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What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship?
Online entrepreneurship programs prepare students for a wide variety of jobs in different business sectors. As a result, earning this degree opens up numerous doors for you, even if you decide you don’t want to start your own business. The following are some examples of job titles you can hold after earning an online entrepreneurship degree:
- Creative designer
- Financial analyst
- Management analyst
- Marketing manager
- E-commerce developer
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Is it worth it to get an entrepreneurship degree?
You may think that entrepreneurship degrees are specifically designed for people who plan to open their own business. While these programs can certainly prepare you for the realities of being a business owner, you can also use your education to step into numerous leadership positions at established organizations. This means that earning this degree is worth it because it gives you the chance to use the skills you develop in unlimited ways.
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How are online entrepreneurship degrees accredited?
Accreditation is an important ingredient for a good online entrepreneurship degree because it certifies that the program provides a quality education and graduates enter the workforce with the skills they need to be successful.Entrepreneurship programs offered online may be accredited by agencies such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. Alternatively, if a specific program has not been accredited, look for accreditation of the college or university, which is granted by regional organizations like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
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How many years does it take to finish a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship?
This depends on whether you plan to enroll as a full-time or part-time student. Generally, undergraduate entrepreneurship programs online will take four years to complete as a full-time student. However, if you enroll on a part-time basis, it can take about six years to finish your degree. Some schools may offer accelerated programs that allow you to earn your degree faster, and you can also speed up the process by taking classes during summer sessions.
Job and Salary Outlook with an Entrepreneurship Degree
After graduating from an entrepreneur school online, you can qualify for well-paid occupations that are expected to grow in the coming years. One advantage of this degree is the unlimited employment options you’ll have in the future — online entrepreneurship programs prepare you for a variety of careers in finance, management, marketing, and sales. The following table includes projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to give you an idea of the earning potential and job growth for just a few of these professions.
| Career | Median Annual Earnings (2021) | Job Growth (2020-2030) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $131,710 | 17% |
| Chief Executive Officers | $98,980 | 6% |
| Financial Analysts | $95,570 | 9% |
| Sales Managers | $127,490 | 5% |
| Management Analysts | $93,000 | 11% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics