For the tenth consecutive year, the University of Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has proudly secured a top 10 ranking worldwide with Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. For 2025, U-M’s graduate programs achieved an exceptional #3 position, with its undergraduate programs also taking a top spot at #6, solidifying U-M’s reputation as a global leader and powerhouse in entrepreneurship education.
“The growth of Entrepreneurship education at the University of Michigan has transformed it from a niche academic add-on to a vital, immersive experience that prepares the Leaders and Best to excel across industries, government, academia, and the startup scene,” said Kurt Skifstad, Dixon and Carol Doll Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “Our hands-on, experiential programming draws from seasoned practitioners, top industry experts, and our incredible Maize and Blue alumni network, together guiding the launch of the next wave of visionary leaders and innovators.”
U-M’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation programs form a vibrant, collaborative ecosystem focused on transformative learning, offering a range of experiences inside and outside the classroom. As interest in entrepreneurship soars, U-M continuously expands its offerings, with students diving into dynamic, interdisciplinary teams and experiences that build crucial leadership and teamwork skills for success in creative, technical, and business ventures.
The ecosystem’s impact is felt throughout campus, engaging students from nearly every college. In the 2024 academic year alone, just over 1 in 5 undergraduates – spanning 132 of U-M’s 144 undergraduate majors – enrolled in courses dedicated to entrepreneurship, taught by over 227 faculty across 71 departments. The outcomes speak volumes: over the past decade, undergraduate alumni have launched 688 companies, collectively raising $1.23 billion, with 1/3 of these ventures still thriving today.
The University’s collaborative entrepreneurial network includes 20 key partners like the Entrepreneurship Minor from the Provost’s Office; Michigan Ross Zell Lurie Institute, Ross Business+Tech, Ross Business + Impact; the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, optiMize, Program in the Environment, and ResEd’s Innovation Theme Community; ArtsEngine; the College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Socially Engaged Design, Honors & Engagement, and Multidisciplinary Design Program; the School of Information; the School of Kinesiology; Marsal School of Education’s Learning Levers; School of Nursing; the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and their EXCEL lab; the School of Public Health; and the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning.
In this interdisciplinary environment, U-M students are not only gaining vital skills but are also empowered to create innovative, impactful paths that foster economic stability and positive societal change for the future.