Simon Business School finds spot among top entrepreneurship programs

The University of Rochester’s Simon Business School ranked among the top 15 graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies, according to the Princeton Review.

Based on data the education services company collected from its summer 2020 survey of more than 300 schools with offerings in entrepreneurship studies, the Princeton Review’s ranking lists for 2021 name 50 undergraduate and 50 graduate schools as outstanding choices for students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.

The University of Houston captured the top spot on the undergraduate schools ranking list, and Rice University finished first  on the graduate list. Both schools were also #1 on the respective lists last year. UR ranked No. 14 on the graduate list.

Data collected from the schools included: the percentage of faculty, students, and alumni actively and successfully involved in entrepreneurial endeavors; the number and reach of mentorship programs, scholarships and grants for entrepreneurial studies; and the level of support for school-sponsored business plan competitions.

“The schools that made our ranking lists for 2021 all offer exceptional entrepreneurship programs,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor in chief. “Their faculties are outstanding. Their courses have robust experiential components, and their students receive outstanding mentoring and networking support. We strongly recommend these fine schools to anyone considering a college major or graduate degree in this burgeoning field.”

All the schools on the Princeton Review lists have remarkable distinctions with respect to their programs and the success their graduates and faculty have attained as entrepreneurs, officials said.

UR’s approach to entrepreneurship studies includes its interdisciplinary Ain Center, which serves to identify and create new partnerships with students, alumni, local businesses, and non-profit organizations. The Simon MBA in entrepreneurship provides students with the skills needed in most startup and small-business situations, from writing a business plan to protecting intellectual property.