Best Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs of 2023
Whether you have an idea for the next big start-up or want to help an existing company innovate and grow, you need strong business, leadership, and creative thinking skills. Develop these abilities and more with an online MBA in entrepreneurship.
Why This Matters
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MANAGEMENT JOBS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 7%
Earning an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship will help you prepare for one of the 706,900 new management positions that are expected to become available within the next decade.
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JOIN 30M OTHER U.S. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Small businesses employ 57.9 million people and account for 99 percent of overall businesses in the U.S. An MBA in entrepreneurship will give you skills for starting your own company.
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INCREASE YOUR SALARY BY $16,000 PER YEAR
The average annual salary for a person with an MBA is $79,000. By comparison, those with a bachelor’s degree earn an average annual salary of $63,000.
Our Research
For this list, we sought the best online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs with a concentration in entrepreneurship. An MBA focuses on advanced management and business skills, with an emphasis on a particular industry or skillset.
One of our main criteria was that programs be delivered fully or mostly online. Some programs can be completed through a combination of online and on-campus classes.
We looked for programs that are offered at regionally accredited institutions to ensure that they meet high standards of quality. Many programs also have programmatic accreditation through bodies like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
We evaluated each program based on reputation, faculty, flexibility, cost, and outcomes. Then we calculated an Intelligent Score for each program on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
- 84 hours to write this article
- 185 universities and colleges we assessed
- 431 education programs we compared
The Top 10 Best Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs
Messiah University
Intelligent Pick
Pennsylvania-based Messiah University offers a highly customizable online Master in Business Administration that is faith based and leadership driven. Messiah is a nationally ranked Christian university that incorporates leadership, faith, and service into all of its degree programs. The online master’s degree takes about two years to complete and features six entry points a year. Courses are asynchronous, and students can expect about 10 to 15 hours of coursework a week, including readings, videos, lectures, discussion boards, assignments, and presentations. Many different concentrations and certificates are available, allowing students to customize their MBA to their unique interests. A bachelor’s degree in business is not required, but prerequisite courses in accounting, finance, microeconomics, and statistics are.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $725
- Credits required to graduate: 36
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 78%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 717-796-5061
Regent University
Best for International Students
Regent University’s Master of Business Administration – Entrepreneurship offers a Christ-centered, globally based, and entrepreneur-focused online program. A highlight of the program is its emphasis on hands-on learning, which leads to the creation of portfolio-quality material students can use during their job search. It is a highly customizable master’s program with 12 other concentrations available. The entrepreneurship track prepares students for positions as business owners, consultants, managers, and executive leaders. Regent is nationally recognized for being military and transfer-friendly and welcomes applications from both groups. The university’s military resource center provides an array of services for veterans and active-duty service members, including academic, financial, community, and career.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $675
- Credits required to graduate: 42
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 27%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 757-352-4400
Ashland University - Dauch College of Business & Economics
Best Alumni Network
Ashland University’s online Master of Business Administration program stands out for its accelerated format — it takes just under 12 months to complete. It’s also extremely customizable, with 12 specializations to choose from, including entrepreneurship. This track equips students with the core skills needed to start, fund, and run their own business. The program has strong community partnerships, including charter membership in the national Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization and corporate partnership with the National Association of Women Business Owners. Courses are taught by the same high-quality faculty who teach in-person classes at the university’s campus in Ohio.
Things to Consider:
- Cost of program: $29,500
- Credits required to graduate: 30
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 63%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 419-289-5214
Johns Hopkins University
Best Part-Time Program
Flexibility is the foundation of Johns Hopkins’ online Master of Business Administration program through the university’s Carey Business School. Courses are offered in brief, eight-week terms. Eight in-demand specializations are available, including entrepreneurial marketing as well as entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Program completion time ranges from 2.5 to 6 years. The program has proven positive career results, with 58% of part-time and online students reporting a salary increase while studying in the program. That same group reported an average starting salary of $109,018 upon degree completion. The program also boasts a diverse population, with over half of students being female and 7% international.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $1,650
- Credits required to graduate: 54
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 92%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 410-234-9220
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Best Advisors
Access to a large alumni network is a highlight of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School’s online Master of Business Administration program. There are over 42,000 alumni of the business school around the world, and connecting with them is built into the program. Customization is also key to the program — students have access to more than 25 electives and five concentrations, including entrepreneurship. Although the program is mostly online, students do complete two in-person summits. These are immersive experiences with classmates, faculty, and alumni that are held in cities around the world and on campus in Chapel Hill. Past international summit destinations include Helsinki, London, Mumbai, and Johannesburg.
Things to Consider:
- Cost of program: $125,589
- Credits required to graduate: 62
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 91%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 888-986-2622
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
Best for Hands-on Experience
The University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign offers an engaging online Master of Business Administration through its Gies College of Business. Dubbed the “iMBA,” the program boasts live, interactive sessions with faculty. It also provides engagement opportunities with classmates, like the annual on-campus iConverge retreat each September. It has a large international student population (about 20%) and offers events like special meetups around the world. Students can choose from five focus areas, which includes entrepreneurship and strategic innovation. Additionally, the program promotes higher-level learning by requiring the completion of three capstone projects to graduate. During the program, students report a 21% pay increase, and over half report receiving a promotion, job offer, or new position.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $307
- Credits required to graduate: 72
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 86%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 217-300-2481
Penn State University
Best Workshops
Penn State’s online Master of Business Administration program boasts a unique mix of partnerships with the Smeal College of Business and several other schools in the Penn State family. It stands out for its faculty from across these schools, including leading researchers in the area of entrepreneurship. A hallmark of the program is that it begins with a five-day residency in University Park, Pennsylvania. Attendees meet classmates and faculty and complete part of the required team performance class. Students can choose from 24 concentrations — the most of any school on this list, including corporate innovation and entrepreneurship. The program also stands out for its comprehensive career services department, specifically for online learners and an alumni association with more than 692,000 members (university wide).
Things to Consider:
- Cost of program: $102,000
- Credits required to graduate: 48
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 73%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 814-863-5386
Northeastern University
Best for Interdisciplinary Approach
Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business offers a dynamic online Master of Business Administration degree for seasoned business professionals. There are eight on-demand concentration options offered, making the program highly customizable. Concentrations include innovation entrepreneurship. Students are also eligible to earn a dual Master of Science in Finance degree. Northeastern was one of the first schools in the nation to offer a fully online AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration program. An additional unique feature of the program is that it offers an optional international field study residency. Recent locations include Greece, China, Turkey, and Peru. An optional week-long on-campus residency is also available.
Things to Consider:
- Cost of program: $69,700
- Credits required to graduate: 50
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 87%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 617-373-5992
Ball State University
Best Hybrid Program
Indiana-based Ball State University offers a well-rounded online Master of Business Administration program that has generous merit scholarship opportunities available. These funding opportunities include graduate fellowships and assistantships specifically for Miller College of Business students. Ball State also offers many military benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. The program emphasizes the importance of decision-making. Nine concentrations are offered, including a general option, which covers entrepreneurship. Additionally, the course entrepreneurial leadership is a requirement for all students, regardless of concentration. The majority of courses are webcast and synchronous and incorporate collaborative learning via discussion boards, file sharing, chats, and more.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $438 (in-state); $1,197 (out-of-state)
- Credits required to graduate: 30 to 34
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 59%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 765-285-1931
Azusa Pacific University
Best Tutoring Services
No campus visits are required to complete California-based Azusa Pacific University’s online Master of Business Administration degree program. Most students complete the program in 15 to 30 months and can choose from eight concentrations, including entrepreneurship. This concentration is highly interactive and features personal assessment and involvement exercises, team activities, new venture simulation, and case studies. A highlight of the program is that students can also earn microcredential badges, certifying their mastery of a skill or ability. Faculty members are distinguished in the business field and include Fulbright scholars and an Oxford Journal 50 Top Global Educator. Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive Christian university committed to providing Christ-centered academic excellence.
Things to Consider:
- Cost per credit: $672
- Credits required to graduate: 42 to 47
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Graduation rate: 68%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 626-815-4570
Other Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs to Consider
What You Should Know About This Degree
An MBA in entrepreneurship is an attractive option for students who are interested in running their own business. While this degree will prepare you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet the challenges of starting and running a company, students should keep in mind the inherent risks of being a business owner.
Before pursuing this career path, consider whether you have the right natural aptitudes for starting a business, including a tolerance for risk, a strong work ethic, and the ability to make tough decisions.
MBA programs are typically geared towards students who have an undergraduate degree in business or extensive professional experience. In instances where students do not meet all of the prerequisite requirements, you may have to complete foundational courses before matriculating into the degree program. In this case, another option is to pursue a Master of Science degree, which may have less stringent admission requirements and include foundational coursework in the degree plan.
An online MBA program will cover the theoretical concepts of entrepreneurship, but hands-on experience is also valued in this field. If you seek out a program that has experiential learning components, such as internships or business labs, be sure you know what they are prior to enrolling so that you can accommodate them in your schedule and budget.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching Online MBA in Entrepreneurship programs:
- Do I have to take standardized tests for admission? MBA programs commonly require students to submit GMAT or GRE scores as part of their admissions applications. Taking these tests is an investment of time and money, so it’s important to factor this into your application preparations if you haven’t taken the tests or don’t have recent scores. You may also choose to seek out programs that don’t have these requirements.
- Does this program have any in-person components? Depending on the program, students may have the option to participate in on-campus or off-site residencies, seminars, or other hands-on learning experiences. These components may be beneficial for networking and gaining practical experience, but they require planning and budgeting for attendance.
Now is also the time to gather your application materials, speak to an admissions representative if you have any questions about the program or admissions process, and consider how you will fund your MBA degree. If you are currently employed, find out if your employer offers tuition assistance benefits. Other options include student loans, scholarships, and assistantships.