University of Maryland Ranks Top 5 in Entrepreneurship Education

The University Of Maryland Has Made It To The Top 5 In The Nation For Helping Students Become Entrepreneurs, According To A New Ranking By The Princeton Review And Entrepreneur Magazine. This Is A Big Jump From Last Year, Moving Up Two Spots To No. 5 Overall And No. 4 Among Public Universities. They’Re Also No. 1 In The Mid-Atlantic Region. The University Has Been In The Top 10 For Nine Years In A Row Now. They’Ve Also Moved Up To No. 13 For Graduate Entrepreneurship Education, Up From No. 18.

The Reason For This Rise In The Rankings Is The University’S Strong Focus On Innovation And Entrepreneurship. Dean Chang, UMD’s Chief Innovation Officer, Said, “What Makes The University Of Maryland Stand Out Is That We Are Constantly Offering More Opportunities For Students In Any Major To Learn And Practice Innovation And Entrepreneurship Skills, And Then Apply Them To Creating Solutions To Society’s Grand Challenges.” He Added, “It’s So Gratifying To See The University Of Maryland Break Into The Top 5, Where We Belong.”

Unlike Other Rankings That Only Look At A University’s Business School, The Princeton Review Considers The Entire Campuswide Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. This Includes Academic Offerings, Mentorships, Competitions, Programs, Centers, And Faculty Support. At UMD, Nearly One In Four Undergraduates Are Enrolled In Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Courses, And They Have Over 100 Courses In Innovation-Related Areas.

One Of The University’s Recent Initiatives Is The XFoundry@UMD, Which Aims To Recruit And Train Students To Work Across Disciplines And Build Solutions For Complex Global Problems. Amir Ansari, Who Oversees The XFoundry, Said, “We Want Students To Know That Careers Can Begin With Doing Something Significant For Our Society, While Also Creating A Profitable, Self-Sustaining And Successful Business Venture.”

The University Has Received High Marks From Various Academic Units, Including The Academy For Innovation And Entrepreneurship, The Dingman Center For Entrepreneurship, The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), And The Do Good Institute. They Also Provide Financial Aid And Scholarships, And Have Student-Led Innovation Programs Like Startup Shell, Bitcamp, And Technica.

UMD Also Takes Pride In Its Successful Alumni Who Have Gone On To Launch Highly Successful Business Ventures, Such As Sergey Brin, Co-Founder Of Google, Anthony Casalena, Founder And CEO Of Squarespace, And Kevin Plank, Founder, Executive Chairman, And Brand Chief Of Under Armour.

Dean Chang Emphasized The University’s Focus On Applying An Entrepreneurial Mindset To Creating Economic And Societal Impact. He Highlighted The University’s Grand Challenges Grants Program And The Annual Do Good Challenge As Key Drivers For Student Involvement.

The University’s Efforts In Innovation And Entrepreneurship Have Also Earned It The Innovation & Economic Prosperity Designation From The Association Of Public And Land-Grant Universities (APLU) For The Second Consecutive Year. This Designation Is Given To Institutions That Demonstrate A Commitment To Regional Economic Engagement, Growth, And Economic Opportunity.

Vice President For Research Gregory F. Ball Said, “The University’s Strategic Plan Prioritizes Efforts To Bolster Innovation, Entrepreneurship, And Inclusive Economic Development, All Of Which Were Key Factors In Receiving Accolades From Both The APLU And The Princeton Review.”