The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah has been ranked as a top-25 school for entrepreneurship for the fourth straight year, according to a survey released today by the Princeton Review. The survey compares 2,000 graduate and undergraduate schools across the country based on a wide range of data including faculty, courses and activities outside the classroom.
“We have an unparalleled variety of opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students who want to explore entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Taylor Randall, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “We are very proud of our entrepreneurship program, and this ranking is one indication of the unique opportunities we offer. We have world-class faculty and courses, and we have a growing number of programs where students can learn by doing.”
In the latest survey, the University of Utah’s graduate program in entrepreneurship ranked 23rd.
The David Eccles School of Business entrepreneurship program has grown significantly in recent years. It continues to add diverse faculty and courses. It just launched a new entrepreneurship certificate open to all undergraduates. And through its Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, it engages thousands of students every year in business plan competitions, innovation tournaments, an entrepreneurship club and related activities that give students hands-on learning experiences.
More growth is expected as the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute breaks ground on Oct. 10 for a new $45 million facility called the Lassonde Studios (www.lassonde.utah.edu/studios). The building will combine 400 beds with a 20,000-square-foot “garage” open to all students on campus to attend events, build prototypes and launch companies. The building opens to students in fall 2016.
“We are in the middle of a tremendous growth period for entrepreneurship at the University of Utah,” said Troy D’Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “We have been ranked as a top school for entrepreneurship for years, and we continue to grow and attract more attention. We are only getting better.”
The Princeton Review chooses the schools based on a wide range of institutional data. Schools are asked about commitment to entrepreneurship inside and outside the classroom, the percentage of their faculty, students, and alumni actively and successfully involved in entrepreneurial endeavors, the number of their mentorship programs, and their funding for scholarships and grants for entrepreneurial studies and projects.
The rankings are based on surveys sent to administrators from April to June 2014. The Princeton Review reports the top-50 schools for entrepreneurship – 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate. The Princeton Review has reported these lists annually since 2006 in partnership with Entrepreneur Media Inc., publisher of Entrepreneur magazine.
Find the complete rankings online at www.princetonreview.com/entrepreneur or www.entrepreneur.com/topcolleges. Learn more about the David Eccles School of Business at www.business.utah.edu and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at www.lassonde.utah.edu.
About the David Eccles School of Business
Founded in 1917 in Salt Lake City, the David Eccles School of Business educates nearly 3,500 students a year and boasts more than 31,000 alumni. Students manage a university venture fund of $18.3 million, the largest of its kind in the nation. In January 2012, the school opened its new $72 million Spencer F. Eccles Business Building, offering students a cutting-edge learning environment packed with state-of-the-art technology. Its entrepreneurship program is consistently ranked as among the best in the nation by the Princeton Review, and its Full-Time MBA program made the biggest jump up the rankings of U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 rankings of graduate schools. For more information, visit www.business.utah.edu.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is the hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and a division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides engagement opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include graduate seminars, business plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Institute is also building a new facility for student entrepreneurs due to open in fall 2016. Learn more at www.lassonde.utah.edu.
