Top 100 Affordable Entrepreneurship Schools

Choosing an Affordable Entrepreneurship College

When searching for an affordable entrepreneurship program, students should weigh more factors than just the gross price of tuition. After all, as any good entrepreneur will know, education is an investment. With that in mind, students and their families should seek out programs that ideally will have affordable net prices but also are likely to yield a great return on that investment. For instance, a business degree from Harvard might be very expensive at the outset, but that investment will pay dividends for a lifetime.

Factors that can point to whether an entrepreneurship program will yield a positive return on the investment include the program's accreditation, tuition, the availability of online classes, and their educational statistics. The accreditation should be a chief factor in any search for a top program. Business schools that hold accreditation from either AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE should go to the top of one's list.

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This is because those accreditation agencies have national standing and are highly respected in the business community. They will also help pave the way to a terrific MBA program. On the other hand, there are many terrific business degree programs which offer a concentration in entrepreneurship which hold regional accreditation. When it comes to regional accreditations, make sure that the agency is approved by CHEA.

Once you've found the best, accredited business program, take a look at the cost of tuition. This number is likely to give some a case of sticker-shock. However, chances are that the gross price is not what most students actually pay. Most colleges and universities have terrific financial aid offices that are able to help find assistance for their students. In fact, some expensive private schools offer financial aid packages that bring the net price down to a level on par with in-state tuition.

Another factor is the availability of online classes, if not a fully online degree program. This feature not only indicates a greater educational value but the flexibility inherent in online education is valuable. This is because, those students who can't wait to start a venture can do so while still taking their online courses. This presents a terrific value proposition in that entrepreneurship students can gain experience as independent businesspeople while continuing to work towards a degree that will serve them for a lifetime.

Online Options

Online education is still relatively new. However, our recent experience during the COVID pandemic turned most, if not all, students into online learners, if only for a brief time. Now that everyone is seasoned with online education, the option is all the more attractive. It's perhaps even more attractive to budding entrepreneurs.

This is because online degrees allow eager entrepreneurial students to launch ventures while still taking classes. In the absence of rigid class times and assignment deadlines, entrepreneurs can pursue their dreams while learning at the same time. In fact, this approach may be far superior to traditional classes. Students can share their entrepreneurial experience with their fellow students, receive input and advice from professors, and still gain new skills every day that will inform their current work as well as provide knowledge and experience for the future.

Even a hybrid online program offers students amazing opportunities. Since not all of their classes follow rigid meeting times, students can find flexibility to work part-time, launch a small business, or pursue internships under entrepreneurial mentors. In fact, these blended online degree programs may be optimal for business students, and especially students of entrepreneurship. A hybrid model delivers both top notch academic outcomes and the opportunity to network with future business leaders, which is vital to long-term business success.

Finally, fully online and hybrid business degree programs provide students with the opportunity to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree from anywhere. Entrepreneurial students can launch ventures in their ideal geographies while attending school across the country. Hybrid students may have to travel to campus for periodic meetings, as some only require a visit once per academic term.

Entrepreneurship Graduates Earn More After College

While it's hard to track how much an entrepreneurship graduate can earn if they launch a successful venture, when these students work for others, they tend to do very well indeed. In fact, these business school graduates are known to earn an average salary of over $61,000. This number is gleaned from salaries for account managers, who earn an average of around $55,000 to marketing directors who earn around $88,000 on average.

In fact, those entrepreneurship students who focus on marketing see an average salary of over $70,000. This is a great payday, and it doesn’t even account for any possible bonuses, benefits, or other non-salary compensation. Thus, a very successful entrepreneurship graduate who leads their marketing team to new highs could see their salary jump over $100,000 after they cash their bonus check.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurship graduates who focus on leadership are known to have their salaries climb even higher. This specific degree is known to help professionals earn over $136,000, on average, as marketing directors. They also excel as business development managers, account coordinators, and operations analysts, among other career options.

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However, if an entrepreneurship student decides to launch their own business, the sky is the limit. Upon starting their firm, they will be the chief executive officer by default. Their salary will likely be on the small side, especially at the launch of their firm. However, savvy entrepreneurs will save their business some payroll taxes by paying themselves primarily with bonuses. This will boost their earnings and they can still report a lower salary. Thus, they help their company thrive while receiving the pay they deserve.