U-M’s entrepreneurship programs among top in nation

There’s no question that demand for entrepreneurial skills is growing nationwide—and not just for individuals who want to start their own businesses. Companies in Michigan and across the nation are searching for employees with “innovative, creative and entrepreneurial mindsets” according to Indeed.com, a job search website.

With the launch of a new campuswide minor in entrepreneurship in January 2015, an entrepreneurial education became available to all students at the University of Michigan. The 15-credit program attracts students from diverse areas of study, with enrollment currently representing over 46 majors in seven undergraduate colleges.

Recognizing its growing track record of excellence in entrepreneurship education, the University of Michigan was recently ranked as the nation’s 7th top institution for undergraduate entrepreneurship education, according to the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. Michigan’s undergraduate program was recognized for making the largest upward leap of any other higher education institution in the 2016 ranking. In addition, the University of Michigan was named the No. 4 program for graduate entrepreneurship education.

“In this past decade, the field of entrepreneurship has become a necessary part of higher education curricula across the United States,” said Oscar Ybarra, director of Innovate Blue, U-M’s campuswide innovation and entrepreneurship education initiative. “In 2012, the university formally recognized this need and created Innovate Blue as a way to expand and connect programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, health, information and more, to create a truly collaborative entrepreneurial environment.”

U-M has seen tremendous interest and activity in innovation and entrepreneurship, from students across all schools and colleges on campus. In addition to its minor program, there now exist at least 15 centers and programs related to entrepreneurship, focusing on different aspects of entrepreneurship education, student challenges and community events. There are also more than 30 student organizations with an entrepreneurial focus.