The Best B-Schools for Entrepreneurs
While many MBA programs acknowledge and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs, some go the extra mile to support their fledgling innovators. Bloomberg Businessweek recently released their rankings of the top 30 MBA programs for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The article in Businessweek explains why business school is an attractive option for entrepreneurs, describing b-school as being "like protective bubble wrap" for some. MBA programs allow students to test out their ideas with professors, fellow students, and industry leaders. Student entrepreneurship organizations can offer further support, and, of course, there is the lure of school-sponsored entrepreneurial competitions and prize money offered at some programs.
As the top-ranking MBA program for entrepreneurs, University of Chicago's Booth School of Business awards more than $100,000 each year as part of several entrepreneurship competitions. In addition to a host of student entrepreneur organizations, the school offers 26 entrepreneurial or related courses, and 20 faculty members who teach entrepreneurship. The school did not provide statistics on the number of graduates who went on to found startup companies.
Harvard University's School of Business ranks second on the list, followed by The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Harvard Business School reported that 6.6 percent of its 2011 MBA class went on to found start-ups. The Wharton School slightly tops that statistic with 7 percent for 2011.
