Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs

Small businesses have traditionally been regarded as the lifeblood of the American economy, but it’s not easy to create a successful venture. In reality, a significant number of businesses fail within a few years.

It’s important for aspiring entrepreneurs to arm themselves with the knowledge and experience it takes to start a lasting business. Earning a master of business administration (MBA) in entrepreneurship can provide a strong foundation of business skills, networking, and mentorship to assist people in bringing good ideas to fruition. Students not only learn how to start a business but also how to expand an existing company and how to effectively launch a new product or service.

Entrepreneurship MBA graduates may seek careers such as consultants, product development managers, business development directors, technology officers, startup founders, market strategists, and franchise managers, among many other roles.

Graduates who are employed by others typically can expect increased salaries and opportunities for advancement after graduating from an MBA program. And fortunately for working professionals who want to earn an advanced degree without relocating or giving up their jobs, there’s a variety of online MBAs—including some focused on entrepreneurship—to give them the flexibility to level up their knowledge.

Read on to discover what to expect from an online MBA in entrepreneurship, including discussions of typical coursework, program accreditation, and cost.

Featured Entrepreneurship Programs
University of North Carolina MBA@UNC Online MBA - Entrepreneurship View Full Profile
Syracuse University Online MBA - Entrepreneurship View Full Profile
Southern New Hampshire University Online MBA In Entrepreneurship View Full Profile
William Paterson University MBA - Entrepreneurship View Full Profile
Ohio University Online MBA - Business Venturing View Full Profile
×

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN Southern New Hampshire University Online MS - Construction Management

Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs

Southern New Hampshire University offers an MBA in entrepreneurship, either online or on campus. Students complete 21 credits in business core coursework, and nine credits in entrepreneurship coursework, and finish with a three-credit capstone project for 36 credits. Entrepreneurship electives include small business management, consulting, and franchising instruction.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree. GRE/GMAT exams are not required, and neither is a campus visit. Depending on courses already taken during their undergraduate degree, students may be required to take basic business classes before acceptance to the MBA program.

Location: Manchester, NH
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $637 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

Ohio University’s College of Business offers an online MBA with a concentration in business venturing and entrepreneurship. Students through this program will graduate with the knowledge and confidence needed to promote innovation and growth at small and large organizations globally. The program’s interactive curriculum is taught by industry experts in the field who are committed to supporting growth. Upon graduation, graduates will have both an MBA and a graduate-level certificate.

The program’s 35-credit curriculum includes core courses such as accounting for executives; descriptive analytics; managerial finance; organizational behavior and human resource management; strategic marketing; and operations management. Concentration courses include managing innovation and corporate entrepreneurship; ideation, concept development, and business models; and new venture creation.

Notably, all online MBA students must attend a unique Leadership Development Conference to engage with their peers in person. During this weekend in Athens, Ohio, students will learn from world-class speakers, connect with their classmates in online business programs at OHIO and meet the faculty members they’ve learned from.

Location: Athens, OH
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: Ohio resident ($1,031 per credit); non-resident ($1,051 per credit)
SARA Participant: Yes

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University offers an online master of business administration in entrepreneurship program. Students take 36 credits of business core coursework, 15 credits of entrepreneurship coursework, and finish with three residency credits, for a total of 54 credits. The entrepreneurship specialization is designed to teach the skills needed to start up a business or social venture. Students employed within an established business learn methods to build growth in their company.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and one year of professional experience. The GRE/GMAT exams are not required for admission. All the coursework is available on-campus or online; however, online students must attend three residencies for workshops and networking. Residencies are available in various locations, including overseas.

The curriculum includes core courses such as data analysis and decision-making; financial accounting; managerial accounting; marketing management; microeconomics; operations and supply chain management; and managerial finance. The entrepreneurship concentration includes courses in foundations of entrepreneurship; corporate entrepreneurship; and managing new product development.

Location: Syracuse, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $1,872 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

An online MBA focusing on entrepreneurship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School requires 34 credits of business core curriculum and 28 credits of entrepreneurship electives for a total of 62 credits. Entrepreneurship coursework focuses on subjects such as new venture discovery; managing modern customers and markets; managing innovation; introduction to entrepreneurship; innovation and entrepreneurship in developing economies; and technology strategy and business innovation.

All coursework is available online, however, online students must attend immersion weekends at the end of each quarter. Students may attend all four but are only required to attend two. The costs of the immersions, except for travel, are included in the tuition.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of professional work experience. GRE/GMAT testing may be waived depending on the number of years worked and the kind of work experience.

Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 36 months
Estimated Tuition: $133,691.58 total
SARA Participant: Yes

Utica University offers an MBA in entrepreneurship that’s fully online or a blended format of online and on-campus classes. Students complete 15 hours of business core coursework, 12 hours of entrepreneurship coursework, and finish with a capstone project for 30 credits. The entrepreneurship coursework is designed to enable professionals to bring their product or service ideas to market.

Students learn about business models, performing audience/market analysis, creating revenue streams, and developing a prototype. The program’s core courses include principles and practices of leadership; financial fluency; data-driven decision-making; and global consumer, markets, and logistics. Entrepreneurship coursework includes topics such as small business innovation; digital marketing; small business funding; and venture implementation.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.7 but aren’t required to take GRE/GMAT exams or visit campus. Additional application requirements include a completed application, a personal statement, two professional references to provide a recommendation, official Transcripts, and a current resume. Work Experience is recommended but not required.

Location: Utica, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $700 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

Strayer University offers abundant online MBA programs, including a concentration in digital entrepreneurship. This innovative program comprises courses in high-growth digital start-up management; digital business operations; and technology and product management. The core classes in this unique program include leadership and organizational behavior; strategic management; business communications; managerial economics and globalization; marketing management; financial accounting for managers; business statistics; and law, ethics, and corporate governance.

Strayer University does not require GMAT or GRE scores or any professional work experience to apply. It offers four start dates per year.

Location: Washington DC
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: Please view full profile for details
Estimated Tuition: Please view full profile for details
SARA Participant: Yes

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management provides a wealth of online MBA specializations, including one in entrepreneurship. This program has competitive admissions and is designed for professionals with two or more years of relevant career experience. To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a statement of purpose, a current resume, official transcripts, one letter of recommendation, and a completed online application. GMAT or GRE scores are not required.

The online MBA in entrepreneurship has courses such as entrepreneurship and the generation of new venture ideas; building a business model; launching a new venture; and feasibility of new venture ideas. The core business classes include behavior in organizations; quantitative analysis for business operations; accounting information and control systems; financial management of the firm; and marketing management, among others. As part of this program, students must attend one immersion experience in Los Angeles. The program consists of 52 credits.

Location: Malibu, CA
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges—Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months or more
Estimated Tuition: $1,995 per credit
SARA Participant: No

The Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business offers an online MBA with the option to pursue an optional concentration in entrepreneurship. Students must complete 21 core credits and 29 elective credits, for a total of 50 credits. Students may opt for a dual degree and obtain an online or on-campus master of science (MS) in finance with their MBA.

Entrepreneurship coursework includes classes such as managing operations in early-stage ventures; social enterprise; business planning for new ventures; business model design & innovation; family business leadership and governance; financing ventures from early stage to exit; platform innovation; new product development; lean design and development; and entrepreneurial marketing & selling.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $900 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

Students at the University of West Alabama’s online MBA program will be able to improve their skills in a wide range of fundamental business topics and can complete the program in just 12 months.

In the entrepreneurship and innovation concentration, students will spend considerable time evaluating several capital funding options, managing innovation, and examining business models. They may engage in activities such as financial statement forecasting and simulation, developing and evaluating specific elements of business plans, negotiating and valuation, and calculating potential investment returns.

This 33-credit MBA includes 24 credits of core coursework and nine elective credits. Core courses include foundations of business; managerial accounting; emerging technologies; managerial economics; comparative business law and ethics; marketing management. Courses in the concentration include business model design & innovation; global entrepreneurship & innovation; cross-cultural innovation management.

Location: Livingston, AL
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $429 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

Campbellsville University offers an online master of business administration program with a concentration in entrepreneurial leadership which is constructed and designed by entrepreneurs preparing students to collaborate with others to develop solutions, lead teams, identify risks and take advantage of opportunities. The core MBA courses will prepare students with skills in critical management, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Made up of 36 credits, the program includes core courses in managerial accounting; marketing management; management information systems; organizational theory; human resource management; business ethics; and business strategy. The entrepreneurial leadership track includes courses such as entrepreneurship; leadership; and entrepreneurial leadership.

Graduates can take up positions such as sales managers, training and development managers, property, real estate, and community association managers, financial managers, and chief executives.

Location: Campbellsville, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $499 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers an online MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship where students will study entrepreneurial innovations and behaviors in both large and small organizations, with an emphasis on leading, planning, controlling, and organizing using entrepreneurial techniques. They will also learn to develop a business plan and perform demand analysis. Additionally, students will deepen their knowledge of financial management, analytics, economics, and marketing.

This 33-credit program includes 21 credits of core courses and 12 credits of entrepreneurship courses. Core courses include management of information technology; managerial economics; policy formulation, strategy, and administration; analytical methods for planning and control; and data analysis. Courses in the concentration include organizational behavior and leadership; marketing management; entrepreneurial management; and law for entrepreneurs.

Graduates can take roles such as sales managers, department managers, business operations managers, marketing managers, business consultants, and executive directors.

Location: Lafayette, LA
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 15 months
Estimated Tuition: $387.88 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business offers a unique online MBA program in entrepreneurship. Known as a global leader in business and entrepreneurship, Babson has entrepreneurship coursework in entrepreneurial finance; corporate entrepreneurship; and foundations of family entrepreneurship. The core curriculum includes courses in operations and information management; marketing; business analytics; finance; managing people and organizations; and financial and sustainability reporting.

This 45-credit degree program does not require GRE or GMAT scores to apply. Throughout this MBA concentration, students will form teams, construct business models, engage with customers and partners, assess feasibility, and launch new ventures or initiatives. Students will also be provided with customized paths for those who wish to specialize in general service or retail, social/nonprofit, technology, global, family, or corporate settings.

Location: Babson Park, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 18 months or more
Estimated Tuition: $1,990 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

New Mexico Highlands University’s online MBA with an entrepreneurship concentration. Using an intensive problem-solving approach, the program features simulations and case studies focused on multicultural issues and managerial responsibilities. Designed for working adults, students in this program will gain insights from expert entrepreneurship faculty members. Graduates will be prepared for entrepreneurial endeavors in various industries with marketable skills.

Comprising 36 credits, the program includes core courses such as quantitative methods; business research methods; financial accounting; managerial finance; managerial economics; business and society; and marketing management. Courses in the entrepreneurship concentration include entrepreneurial forum; entrepreneurship; and managerial approach to internet marketing strategies.

Applicants to the program will require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, official copies of all college transcripts, and a current resume. GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission.

Location: Las Vegas, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $525 per credit
SARA Participant: Yes

An MBA in entrepreneurship at the University of Massachusetts Global can be earned online, on-campus, or a blend of online and on-campus. Students complete 24-36 credits in business core coursework and 12 credits in entrepreneurship coursework for a total of 36-48 credits. Entrepreneurship coursework includes finance, marketing research, and new product development.

The University of Massachusetts Global has over 25 campuses in California and Washington and the MBA in entrepreneurship program is available on campus at 16 of them. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree and satisfactory GRE/GMAT scores, which can be waived upon presentation of a portfolio demonstrating adequate professional credentials.

Graduates will be prepared to work as consultants or build their own agencies offering engineering, marketing, information technologies services, and more.

Location: Irvine, CA
Accreditation: WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $2,127 per course
SARA Participant: Yes

Accreditation and State Authorization of Online MBA Programs

When choosing a school, it is essential to determine if it is accredited, and if so, what agency accredited it.

Accreditation is a process by which an independent agency evaluates the quality of the curriculum and the instructors. Certain standards must be met before accreditation is granted. The agency-accrediting institutions that provide business education are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). These institutions provide accreditation for individual programs.

Finally, State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) are voluntary agreements among states that establish “comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs.” The intent is to make it easier for students to take online courses from out-of-state institutions, thereby giving them more access to educational programs. Most online programs list their “state authorization” status (i.e., their ability to enroll out-of-state students) on their websites. For those who don’t, contacting program officials is advisable to determine eligibility.

Professors to Know in Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs

  • Christopher Bingham, PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Christopher Bingham is the Phillip Hettleman distinguished professor of strategy and entrepreneurship, a faculty director of the entrepreneurship center, and area chair of strategy and entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He teaches or has taught courses such as strategy in high-velocity markets; strategic management; and strategy & innovation.

    Being an expert in innovation, growth, and strategy in dynamic markets, he is an award-winning researcher and teacher. His research has been published in several management journals and has received numerous best-paper awards. Dr. Bingham completed his PhD in strategy, organizations, and entrepreneurship from Stanford University and received his BS in accounting and his MBA/MA from Brigham Young University.

  • Edmund (Ted) Clark, MBA Northeastern University

    Edmund (Ted) Clark is a senior academic specialist and the executive professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at Northeastern University D'Amore-McKim School of Business, where he teaches entrepreneurship, small business management, marketing, and the management of family businesses.

    He is experienced in business startups, consulting, developing business-to-business strategies, and financial services. He is on the board of directors for the Family Firm Institute and is co-chair of the Massachusetts Family Business Awards program. He holds an MBA from Clark University and a BS in industrial technology from the University of Southern Maine.

  • Kevin Groves, PhD Pepperdine University

    Kevin S. Groves is a professor of organization theory and management at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, teaching various graduate courses in organization design and strategic alignment; talent management; and executive leadership.

    Dr. Groves primarily teaches in the school’s MS in Human Resources, Executive DBA, and MBA programs at the West Los Angeles and Malibu campuses. His research focuses on talent management, leadership development practices, and executive succession. His research has been published in prominent journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics, the Journal of Management, and Organizational Dynamics. He completed his PhD and MA from Claremont Graduate University and BA from Eastern Washington University.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani is an expert in online MBA programs, having covered MBA programs in computer science, economics, healthcare management, and fraud and forensics, among others, since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).