Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring innovators and independent business leaders, this program equips learners with the strategic, operational, and financial acumen needed to launch, manage, and scale new ventures in dynamic market environments. It emphasizes practical application, critical thinking, and adaptive leadership within the context of small business ecosystems and emerging entrepreneurial enterprises.
- Business Model Development: Designing and validating sustainable frameworks for delivering value, including revenue streams, cost structures, and customer engagement strategies.
- Startup Financing and Investment: Exploring funding sources such as venture capital, angel investors, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping, along with financial planning and investor relations.
- Market Research and Opportunity Analysis: Applying qualitative and quantitative methods to identify target markets, assess demand, and evaluate competitive landscapes.
- Small Business Operations Management: Overseeing day-to-day functions including supply chain logistics, human resources, compliance, and performance metrics.
- Innovation and Product Development: Navigating ideation, prototyping, testing, and commercialization of new products or services in response to market needs.
- Entrepreneurial Leadership and Decision-Making: Cultivating resilience, ethical judgment, and strategic foresight to guide teams through uncertainty and rapid growth.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Understanding business structures, intellectual property rights, contracts, licensing, and federal, state, and local regulations affecting small enterprises.
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 43 institutions offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations is found at Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (97 graduates), University of Southern California (USC) (95 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (59 graduates), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (17 graduates), and Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey), Cupey Campus (16 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 437 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
97 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
95 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Associate's
|
59 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
16 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
14 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Interactive College of Technology (ICT) |
Associate's
|
13 | Chamblee, Georgia | Private | ict.edu |
| University of Hawaii |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kahului, Hawaii | Public | maui.hawaii.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Fayetteville State University (FSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | uncfsu.edu |
| Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Flagler College (Flagler) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Saint Augustine, Florida | Private | flagler.edu |
| North Idaho College (NIC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Coeur d'Alene, Idaho | Public | nic.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Associate's
|
5 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Minot State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Minot, North Dakota | Public | minotstateu.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Master's
|
5 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Other Award
|
5 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| William Penn University (WPU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Oskaloosa, Iowa | Private | wmpenn.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Husson University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bangor, Maine | Private | husson.edu |
| Spring Hill College (SHC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | shc.edu |
| Judson University |
Other Award
|
3 | Elgin, Illinois | Private | judsonu.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
3 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Interactive College of Technology (ICT) |
Associate's
|
2 | Morrow, Georgia | Private | ict.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Other Award
|
2 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Interactive College of Technology (ICT) |
Associate's
|
2 | Houston, Texas | Private | ict.edu |
| Millikin University |
Other Award
|
1 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stthomas.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
1 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Bucks County Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Public | bucks.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Interactive College of Technology (ICT) |
Associate's
|
1 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | ict.edu |
| Interactive College of Technology (ICT) |
Associate's
|
1 | Houston, Texas | Private | ict.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs
Which universities have the largest Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs?
Currently 43 accredited institutions offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (97 graduates), University of Southern California (USC) (95 graduates), and NUC University (NUC) (59 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 260 in 2010 to 437 in 2023-24. This represents a 68% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
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