MBA in Entrepreneurship Online Programs for 2023

There’s something alluring about the thought of being an entrepreneur. Just the word alone conjures up visions of a young maverick building a huge business empire from scratch with nothing but great ideas and pure will. But the reality is that no novice entrepreneur accomplishes these things on will alone. They also need knowledge, skills, and connections to realize these dreams. And, today, there may be no better way to enter the entrepreneurial world than by earning a master’s in business from one of today’s best MBA in entrepreneurship online degree programs.

But, knowing where to start is always tricky so we’ve made this guide to get you help find the best MBA in entrepreneurship online program for you – that is, the one whose curriculum and content delivery format that best fit your unique study requirements and career goals, as well as your pocketbook. So, if you’re ready to shake up the business world with your innovative ideas, keep reading to find out how to jump start your entrepreneurial dreams by earning your entrepreneurship online MBA.

Spotlight on the 3 Best Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs for 2023

We’ve surveyed the many online MBA programs in entrepreneurship currently available and chosen three of the very best. Our selections were made by considering a number of student-focused program elements such as accreditation, academic quality, affordability, study convenience and flexibility, and access to important academic and career student support services. Here’s our take on three of the programs that stand out from the rest in 2023.

• Louisiana State University

  Offered through its Online & Continuing Education division, the Online Master of Business Administration with Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise Concentration program from LSU prepares graduates to launch new business ventures or offer innovative ideas to their current employers. The curriculum consists of 30 credits of core business administration and entrepreneurship specialized courses. All coursework is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format that allows students to access and attend to their studies at any time. The asynchronous format additionally allows for self-paced study, ensuring that full-time students can complete their degrees in less than a year.

  One of the most affordable online entrepreneurship MBA programs, LSU’s current total tuition cost for this program is $12,474. Admission into the program requires either a bachelor’s or a graduate degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must also meet additional requirements such as GPA, GMAT scores, and/or minimum years of work experience in relevant jobs. 

• Southern New Hampshire University

  A highly-regarded, private and non-profit institution, Southern New Hampshire University has a wide array of online programs, including an amazing MBA in Entrepreneurship program. This fully online program is presented 100% online with all coursework delivered in an asynchronous format. This format allows for maximum study accessibility since students can access the coursework at any time. Students are invited to log in and attend weekly live webinars in which they can interact with instructors and fellow students. These webinars are recorded which allows students the opportunity to review them at other times if they are unable to attend live. The program’s course of study consists of 21 credits of foundational MBA coursework along with nine credits of entrepreneurship-focused courses. Full-time students complete two classes each term, and they complete the degree in a year. Part-time students taking one class per term will complete their degree in two years. To be admitted, students are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any major. On a good note, GMAT/GRE or previous work experience is required.

  The current per-credit tuition rate for SNHU’s ACBSP-accredited MBA in Entrepreneurship program is $627, making the total tuition cost for the 30-credit program $18,810. Students who are not from a business-related undergraduate degree may be required to complete two additional foundational business classes, which means that students will need to complete a total of 36 credit hours. 

• William Paterson University

  William Paterson University, a public university in Wayne, New Jersey, offers its AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration with Entrepreneurship Concentration. This accelerated online format can be completed in as little as a year. The curriculum consists of 15 credits of core upper-level business administration coursework (including a culminating capstone experience) and 15 credits entrepreneurship specialization courses. All coursework is accessed and completed 100% online with no campus visits or other in-person activities requirements. The current total tuition cost is $14,835, making WPU’s program another of the most affordable online entrepreneurship MBA programs offered today.

  Admission requirements for WPU’s online entrepreneurship MBA include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Students with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 may be admitted with the addition of exceptional GMAT or GRE test scores that meet minimum requirements, or two years of supervisory work experience. Multiple start dates for the program are available each year.

Cost of an Online MBA in Entrepreneurship

When it comes to the cost of a college degree, affordability is a relative term. The fact is that paying for any degree requires a major financial commitment. So, regardless of your personal financial circumstances, it’s to your great advantage to put an attentive funding plan into place before you commit to any MBA in entrepreneurship online program. The enrollment plan starts with finding the online entrepreneurship MBA that best fits your academic and career goals, as well as your budget. To give you a general estimate of what your degrees can cost, we’ve listed below the current tuition costs for five online MBA in entrepreneurship programs. Keep in mind that you will have additional costs on top of your tuition. 

Remember also that there are a ton of potential funding resources and assistance. If you want to learn more about them, visit our guides to the FAFSA, financial aid, and scholarships.

How Much Your Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Could Cost

What to Expect in Your Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Program

There are two main areas of expectation when it comes to the best MBA in entrepreneurship online programs: content and delivery. Content refers to what you’ll learn in your course of study, and delivery refers to how you will be taught that content. So, let’s start with content, then move to delivery.

The goal of any entrepreneurship MBA program is to prepare graduates to launch or advise new business ventures, as well as to inject a fresh dose of energy and innovation into well-established businesses. The curriculums of online MBA in entrepreneurship programs combine core business coursework. These core classes will be similar to other classes that are offered in other MBA programs with courses that are related to the entrepreneurship subfield. In addition, many online entrepreneurship MBA courses of study culminate in the completion of a capstone project often tailored to address a startup or an innovative idea of the student.

To give you a better idea of the subjects in your studies, we’ve described five courses similar to ones commonly offered by entrepreneurship MBA programs in the next passage.

Regarding content delivery, online entrepreneurship MBA programs strive to provide their students with delivery formats and methods that maximize study convenience and flexibility. This is typically achieved through the use of:

• Online learning management systems such as Blackboard and Canvas are usually the central delivery point for course materials, recorded class sessions, and tools for interacting with instructors and fellow students.
• Asynchronous and synchronous class formats. Programs may deliver all content asynchronously or synchronously, or through a combination of the two. 
• Full-time, part-time, and self-paced study options.

It’s important to keep in mind that every online MBA in entrepreneurship program offers up its own take on academic content and mixture of content delivery methods. So, you are strongly advised to carefully review each program you’re considering to determine which one offers the combination of content and delivery that best fit with your specific study needs and preferences.

Common Online MBA Courses

• Entrepreneurial Finance

  This course focuses on the financial, legal, and tax issues concerning the identification, evaluation, and accessing of sources of original and growth funding for new ventures. Specific topics covered include startup financing, financial strategies and planning, taking a company public, selling out, and issues surrounding failure and bankruptcy. 

• Global Entrepreneurship

  Introduction to current international entrepreneurial opportunities and the tremendous growth potential for entrepreneurs in the global marketplace. Focus is placed on the competitive landscapes, conflicts of interest, internal and external political and legal issues, and cultural differences impacting global trade from an entrepreneurial perspective. A number of online entrepreneurship MBA programs offer this course in conjunction with required or optional global immersion experiences.

• Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship

  Examination of the legal and transactional issues impacting the business activities of startups and emerging growth companies. Students learn how to best employ legal strategies to manage resources and risk, enforce employment agreements, maximize shareholder value, and more. Students additionally explore the legal, financial, and tax advantages and disadvantages of various business forms (corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, etc.).

• Marketing for Entrepreneurs

  This course offers a look at the many marketing issues and challenges facing entrepreneurs with a particular emphasis given to new and innovative marketing types (i.e., social media, blogs, podcasts, content-rich websites, viral content, etc.). Students are given the opportunity to develop their own marketing strategies and integrate them into their individual business plans.

• Small Business Management for Entrepreneurs

  Comprehensive examination of the issues involved in entrepreneurship and small businesses from a managerial perspective. Topics include managerial strategies and decision-making tools, human resources management, risk assessment and protection, crisis management, and the unique challenges faced in managing family-owned and operated businesses.

FAQs About Online MBA Programs

• What’s the difference between an online MBA and traditional MBA program?

  Generally speaking, there are very very few differences between online and traditional on-campus MBA in entrepreneurship programs in terms of admissions and academic requirements. The main differences have to do with the overall learning experience and environment, and content delivery. Online programs typically offer more flexibility to complete by offering full-time, part-time, and self-paced study options. Therefore, students working full-time or who are unable to attend classes during the day will likely choose the online program. Students able to focus primarily on their degree studies may prefer the benefit of face-to-face interaction with instructors and fellow students that traditional on-campus programs provide.

• Can I work full-time while pursuing an online MBA?

  It’s possible, but it all depends on the specific program and the study options it offers. Most MBA in entrepreneurship online programs offer both full- and part-time options. Programs may additionally feature coursework delivered partially or entirely in an asynchronous format allowing students to access and attend to their coursework at any time, thus allowing them to better fit their academic studies into their more rigid work schedules.

• What types of accreditations should I look for in an online MBA in entrepreneurship online program?

  Online MBA in entrepreneurship degree programs, along with all other U.S.-based MBA programs, are programmatically accredited by one of three accrediting organizations: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). In addition to accreditation for each program, you’ll also want to confirm institutional accreditation of the college or university of the program itself. Institutional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is overseen by a number of U.S. Department of Education recognized independent national and regional accrediting agencies. Both institutional and regional accreditation information can normally be found on each program’s website. You can also search for current accreditation status through the Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

• What are the admissions requirements for an online MBA?

  Admissions requirements for online executive MBA programs vary from program to program, but there are a lot of similarities. Common requirements include:

  • Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Most programs accept bachelor’s degrees in any major. Some programs additionally require a minimum cumulative GPA on undergraduate coursework.
  • Professional Experience: A major admissions requirement of all EMBA programs is substantial professional work experience in management or supervisory positions. Minimum requirements vary, but typically five years is the standard. Some programs will accept students with as few as two years of experience.
  • GMAT/GRE Test Scores: Some programs require them, and some don’t. Some also offer waivers for applicants who meet the minimum requirements such as exceptional undergraduate GPA or high number of years of work experience.
  • Additional Application Requirements: Other common application requirements include a current resume, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and admissions interview. 

• How long does it take to earn an MBA in Entrepreneurship?

  Online MBA in entrepreneurship completion times vary by program and the student’s chosen study pace. Full-time students can often complete their studies in from one to 1 1⁄2 years, while part-time students typically complete their programs around two years. During your program search, you’ll find that many programs bill themselves as completable in “as few as” a given number of months. Examples include the University of West Florida (as few as 16 months), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (as few as 15 months), and Colorado Technical University (as few as 12 months). And Louisiana State University claims its online entrepreneurship MBA program (spotlighted above) can be completed in as few as 10 months.

• Can I earn my MBA 100% online or do I need to visit campus?

  This depends on the specific program. Many MBA in entrepreneurship online programs today are presented 100% online with no required campus visits or other in-person participation of any kind. Examples of such programs include three programs spotlighted above. Other programs may feature hybrid formats that combine online and on-campus class sessions or include any of a number of other types of in-person requirements, such as orientation sessions, seminars, and short-term residencies. Examples include Syracuse University’s MBA Entrepreneurship program (with three in-person residencies scheduled in major cities around the world) and the University of North Carolina’s MBA with Entrepreneurship Concentration (which includes both on-campus and international summits).

  What’s important to remember here is to be sure you have a clear idea of any in-person requirements or options before you enroll in any online MBA in entrepreneurship program.

What You Can Do with an Online MBA in Entrepreneurship

It should be no surprise that an MBA in entrepreneurship is touted as the go-to degree choice for anyone whose goal is to launch their own business. Entrepreneurship MBAs are designed to provide students with the business and entrepreneurial skill set that best prepares them to envision, develop, launch, and sustain new business ventures. However, what you may not realize is that an MBA in entrepreneurship is an excellent option for seasoned business professionals looking to incorporate innovation into established companies – either from within or as an independent consultant. 

We’ve identified below three of the many high-paying, high-demand job options available to graduates of MBA in entrepreneurship online programs to give you an idea of what you can do with your degree beyond starting your own business. 

Financial and Investment Analysts

Financial and investment analysts, not surprisingly, provide professional advice to individuals and businesses regarding financial and investment decisions. Through the use of financial information and data, they study the microeconomic and macroeconomic environments to make predictions for and about various business institutions, industries, and sectors. Entrepreneurship MBA degree holders often provide financial and investment advice to new and fast-growing businesses either as an employee or as an independent consultant.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Management Analyst

Management analysts and management consultants work in-house or as independent contractors to assess the management practices of a business or organization in order to find ways to improve efficiencies and increase profits. This often requires the kind of fresh and innovative thinking that entrepreneur MBA graduates are best prepared to provide.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers develop and carry out marketing strategies for businesses and organizations intent on attracting new customers, clients, and investors. The primary challenge of all entrepreneurs is finding ways to compete against larger, established companies with major marketing resources. MBA in entrepreneurship degree holders with a career focus on marketing are, therefore, a great choice for new ventures seeking innovative thinkers to provide them with effective and economically efficient marketing ideas. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022