Research Article: 2024 Vol: 27 Issue: 1
Daniel Hernandez, University of Nevada
Citation Information: Hernandez, D. (2024). The best universities for women entrepreneurs in the u.s.. Journal of Management Information and Decision Sciences, 27 (S1), 1-4.
Starting a business on your own isn't an easy task. In fact, it takes some serious guts to leave your comfort zone and take on the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. However, with increased education (and mentorship) comes increased success and a higher chance of being able to accomplish big things, like starting an innovative business that will change the way people think about your particular niche. This is why it's important for women who are looking to start a business to consider some of the best universities that openly support female entrepreneurs
Women Entrepreneurs, US.
According to research by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), if women and men around the world participated equally as entrepreneurs, global GDP could ultimately rise by approximately 3% to 6%, boosting the global economy by $2.5 trillion to $5 trillion.
This compelling statistic highlights the substantial economic opportunity tied to empowering and nurturing women entrepreneurs, making it a priority for universities and aspiring businesswomen alike (Bobade & Shelar, 2018).
Why Choose the Right University for Women Entrepreneurs ?
Most people know that the United States is a great place for starting new businesses, but you might not realize how well women are doing by getting the right education from the right university (Shepherd, 2020).
According to a recent study by Fundera, women-owned businesses in the United States generate $1.8 trillion in sales and employ 7.3 million people.
This means that women entrepreneurs are playing an important role in the U.S. economy, making it stronger than ever before and choosing the right university to get an education in business can help you take advantage of these trends (Brown, 2022).
Along with the fact that women-owned businesses are growing at a faster rate, there are many other reasons why women should consider going to the right university.
Affordability: Women often say they can't afford college, which is a big reason they don't have a master’s degree. But if they choose the right university, they can get financial help like scholarships for women and other resources to make college more affordable (The Princeton Review Staff, 2022).
College Enrollment: More women go to college than men, and this trend is likely to continue. Going to the right university gives women the support they need to do well in college and in their future careers (Chatta, 2023).
STEM Fields: There are fewer women in jobs related to science, tech, engineering, and math (STEM), and they're outnumbered by men in STEM majors. The right university can offer women access to programs and resources to succeed in these fields (Dmohowski, 2023).
Confidence and Skills: Women often hesitate to apply for jobs unless they meet all the qualifications. But the right university can give them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to chase their career goals and apply for jobs even if they don't feel 100% qualified.
Breaking Barriers: Women have faced obstacles to getting higher education in the past, like limited access to colleges. Choosing the right university can help women overcome these barriers and achieve their educational and career dreams.
Top Universities for Women Entrepreneurs in the U.S.
For women interested in being top entrepreneurs in the USA, finding the right university is more difficult than it might otherwise be—but not impossible!
For those looking to pursue higher education in a supportive environment, explore this list of top 10 universities that also provide budget-friendly fee.
Cornell University
Graduation Fee: $30,019 per year
Cornell University provides students with the resources, mentorship and funding opportunities needed to launch entrepreneurial ventures. The Cornell Entrepreneurship Network (CEN) is one of those programs that allows access for all students to such things as a range companies like Google visiting their campus each year.
University of Michigan
Graduation Fee: $67,442 per year (in-state); $72,442 per year (out-of-state). The University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship provides female entrepreneurs with a range of programs and resources, including the Michigan Business Challenge—an annual competition in which student-led startups receive funding and mentorship.
Agnes Scott College
Graduation Fee: $44,840 per year.
Agnes Scott College offers a variety of entrepreneurship programs, including Women's Bridge to Business (WBB), which provides mentorship and networking opportunities for female students interested in starting their own businesses.
Babson College
Graduation Fee: $54,608 per year. Babson College is consistently ranked as one of the top schools for entrepreneurship in the U.S., and it offers a range of programs and resources—including its Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab, which provides mentorship, funding, networking opportunities—for female entrepreneurs.
American University
Graduation Fee: $51,361 per year. The Kogod School of Business at American University offers a wide range of entrepreneurship programs, including the Entrepreneurship Incubator—a program that provides students with mentorship and funding to help launch their own businesses.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Graduation Fee: $15,000 per year (in-state); $33,000 per year (out-of-state).
The DifferenceMaker program at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell provides students with mentorship, funding and resources to launch their own businesses. The university also has a strong focus on innovation and technology—fields that benefit women entrepreneurs.
Wesleyan College
Graduation Fee: $19,000 per year.
Wesleyan College offers a range of entrepreneurship programs, including the Women's Business Center, which provides female entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and resources to launch and grow their businesses.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Graduation Fee: $54,720 per year.
The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship provides mentorship and funding support to female entrepreneurs who are seeking to launch or grow their companies. The university also has a strong focus on innovation and technology, which can be beneficial for women entrepreneurs in these fields.
Saint Mary's College
Graduation Fee: $45,000 per year. Saint Mary's College provides female entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding and resources to launch and grow their businesses through the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative. The college also has a strong focus on leadership and social responsibility, which can be beneficial for women entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact.
Wellesley College
Graduation Fee: $58,448 per year.
Wellesley College offers a range of entrepreneurship programs, including the Albright Institute for Global Affairs. The institute provides female students with mentorship, funding and resources to launch their own businesses—as well as access to top business leaders around the world.
Top Influential Women Entrepreneurs and Where they Studied
As a woman entrepreneur, it is important to surround yourself with other women who have similar goals and interests and follow in the footsteps of successful women who have paved the way for you.
Here is a list of some of the top universities that have produced influential female entrepreneurs and whom you can look to as role models:
1. Ruth Fertel - Founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House, graduated from Louisiana State University
2. Emily Weiss - Founder of Glossier, graduated from New York University
3. Katrina Lake - Founder of Stitch Fix, graduated from Stanford University
4. Debbi Fields - Founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies, graduated from Stanford University
5. Susan Wojcicki - CEO of YouTube, graduated from Harvard University
6. Lynsi Snyder - CEO of In-N-Out Burger, graduated from Azusa Pacific University
7. Kimra Luna - Founder of Freedom Hackers, graduated from Wellesley College
8. Oprah Winfrey - Founder of OWN and media mogul, graduated from Tennessee State University
9. Arianna Huffington - Founder of The Huffington Post, graduated from Cambridge University
10. Lisa Su - CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
It's a Wrap
Although everyone faces challenges, as a woman, you'll likely encounter some that are unique to your situation.
However, if you're persistent and find the right resources for support, then there's no reason why—with hard work!—you can't accomplish this feat. And don't be afraid to ask for help. Learning is a lifelong process, and no one does it alone. So get out there and make things happen—you might even change the world.
Bobade, D., & Shelar, P. (2018). Digitalization and women entrepreneurs. Sansmaran Research Journal, 1-10.
Chatta, W. (2023). Mapping COVID-19 Vaccination Among Students at Baylor University: A Comparative Approach (Doctoral dissertation).
Dmohowski, J.F. (2023). Richard Nixon at Whittier College: The Education of a Leader. Southern California Quarterly, 105(1), 27-85.
Shepherd, M. (2020). Women-Owned Businesses: Statistics and Overview (2021). Available at: Women-Owned Businesses: Statistics and Overview (2021)–Fundera Ledger.
The Princeton Review Staff. (2022). Top 50 Best Undergraduate Programs for Entrepreneurs in 2023. Entrepreneur.
Unnikrishnan, S., & Blair, C. (2019). Want to boost the global economy by $5 Trillion? Support women as entrepreneurs. BCG Global.
Received: 05-Oct-2023, Manuscript No. JMIDS-23-14069; Editor assigned: 07-Oct-2023, Pre QC No. JMIDS-23-14069(PQ); Reviewed: 18-Oct-2023, QC No. JMIDS-23-14069; Revised: 21-Oct-2023, Manuscript No. JMIDS-23-14069(R); Published: 29-Oct-2023