UMD Ranks No. 4 for Undergraduate Entrepreneurship

The University of Maryland has reached No. 4 in the nation for undergraduate entrepreneurship education in the 2027 rankings released by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. The university also ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic and Big Ten, and No. 3 among public universities. UMD placed No. 15 overall among graduate entrepreneurship programs and No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic. This is the second time UMD has made the top 5 and its 12th consecutive year in the top 10.

Campuswide Entrepreneurship Programs

UMD’s campuswide innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem includes living-learning programs, courses, mentors, resources, tools and funding across disciplines.

“The university's continued recognition reflects the strength and breadth of our campuswide innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem, which continues to adapt each year to best match students' evolving needs and interests. Our students have abundant and easily accessible programs, mentors, resources, tools, and funding to meet them wherever they are with whatever they need. From the arts and humanities to engineering, business, science and social innovation, entrepreneurship at UMD is more than just starting companies and not confined to one school or discipline — it is woven into every part of the student experience across our university.”

UMD launched the nation’s first living-learning entrepreneurship program in 1999, and it has since been replicated at more than 20 universities. The Terrapin Innovation Leadership Program has provided full scholarships to community college transfer students for two decades. The Business, Society & Entrepreneurship program was relaunched and rebranded in 2025.

“UMD students are exposed early to our university's extensive network of dedicated mentors, unique programs and diverse resources. We can channel their creativity and curiosity to discover opportunities where others see obstacles, encourage careers that seem out of reach and develop unique individuals that are better equipped to excel in a fast moving and increasingly complex world.”

Courses Across Majors

Nearly one in four undergraduates, 7,025 students across 92 majors, enrolled in undergraduate entrepreneurship courses at UMD in 2025-26. Those courses were taught by 63 faculty members from 25 departments. Two introductory entrepreneurship courses together enroll more than 4,000 students each year.

Available online or in hybrid formats, the courses support general education requirements and offer a route to the minor in technology entrepreneurship, which enrolls approximately 500 students from 10 of UMD’s 12 undergraduate colleges. UMD also offers over 100 courses in innovation-related areas.

“At UMD, we see entrepreneurship as a mindset that encourages students to think creatively, approach challenges from new perspectives and develop the skills to solve complex problems and take on grand challenges. We are committed to providing students across disciplines with opportunities to cultivate this mindset through innovative coursework and hands-on learning experiences. This recognition speaks to the strength of our academic programs and the dedication of our faculty to preparing students to turn ideas into meaningful impact.”

Resources For Student Ventures

UMD’s entrepreneurship resources include xFoundry, the Dingman-Lamone Center, the IDEA Factory, the Do Good Institute and the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Startup Shell is a 24/7, student-run, student-led incubator that has created over 300 ventures, including the Bitcamp and Technica hackathons. UM Ventures supports knowledge and technology translation and commercialization, while UMD manages the Mid-Atlantic Innovation Hub as part of the National Science Foundation’s National Innovation Network.