SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business is ranked No. 2 for undergraduate and No. 3 for graduate entrepreneurship education in the West in new rankings from the Princeton Review for 2026.
The rankings are the latest of many top rankings for entrepreneurship programs at the Eccles School.
“We’re proud to be recognized among the nation’s leading schools for entrepreneurship because our students don’t just study it, they live it,” said Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “At the University of Utah, students can explore entrepreneurship through diverse courses and degree paths and then bring their ideas to life through hands-on programs, funding opportunities, mentorship and a thriving startup community.”
The entrepreneurship programs at the Eccles School are provided in partnership between the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. Together, they support a growing and broad range of programs from grants and workshops to elective courses, a unique graduate program and a living-learning community.
The top rankings follow significant growth in programs offered at the University of Utah. The Eccles School and Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute provide opportunities for students of all majors and levels to learn about the mindset and skills needed to be an entrepreneur.
“Our program unites world-class researchers and accomplished entrepreneurs who bring real-world experience and insight to the classroom,” said Bill Hesterly, chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the Eccles School. “Together with our driven students, we cultivate an environment where theory meets practice, empowering students to build their own ventures or innovate within existing organizations. This blend of expertise and experience equips our graduates to lead change and create impact wherever their careers take them.”
For undergraduate students, the Eccles School offers electives, minor and major in entrepreneurship.
Outside the classroom, among many other opportunities, one unique opportunity for undergraduates is Lassonde Founders, a residential community for students who are active entrepreneurs. Students receive scholarships and the opportunity to live and launch with an exceptional group of young entrepreneurs. All students are invited to apply to join this program.
For graduate students, the Eccles School offers an MBA with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and the award-winning Master of Business Creation (MBC). The MBC program launched in 2019 and helps founders grow their businesses through a high-value and affordable program, application-focused curriculum, personal mentors, access to grants and more.
The MBC program is available in two formats – the in-person, two-semester, MBC In-Person option, and the virtual, three-semester, MBC Online option. Both formats provide the same benefits and personal attention to each founder. The MBC program also offers a growing MBC Global opportunity for international residents to enroll from select countries around the world. The application is now open to join the MBC program in spring and fall 2026.
To support alumni, the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute provides the Lassonde for Life program. It welcomes all University of Utah alumni, from every major and college, to participate in a variety of activities and events to explore entrepreneurship and grow a product idea or business.
“What sets us apart is the incredible range and depth of opportunities we offer to students and alumni passionate about entrepreneurship,” said Scott Holley, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “We invite everyone to be part of this community. Students can jump into our programs, alumni can stay connected and community members can make a real impact as mentors and supporters.”
The Eccles School also provides many more options outside the classroom for all students on campus to experience entrepreneurship by launching companies and building products at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. Opportunities there include workshops, mentoring, startup support, grants and meetups. Students can also “live, create, launch” at Lassonde Studios, a five-story building in the center of campus with an innovation space on the first floor and dorm space on the upper levels. Lassonde Studios has been featured by The New York Times and Architectural Digest and continues to attract international attention.
The new Princeton Review rankings are based survey conducted of about 300 schools with entrepreneurship offerings. The rankings were determined by considering more than 40 data points about the school programs, faculties, students and alumni.
The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur published the project’s ranking lists on their respective websites at princetonreview.com/entrepreneur and entrepreneur.com/topcolleges.
The ranking lists name the top 50 undergraduate and top 50 graduate schools for entrepreneurship studies for 2026. The project also names the undergraduate and graduate schools that ranked highest within seven regions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeastern, South, Southwest, Western and International.
Learn more about entrepreneurship at the Eccles School and University of Utah at eccles.utah.edu/entrepreneur.
About the David Eccles School of Business
At the Eccles School, students do more than earn a degree or learn business – they live the experience with hands-on immersive learning. This empowers students to graduate not only with a degree, but the real-world experience, the mindset, skills and confidence to succeed. Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBA programs, eight specialized master’s programs, five Ph.D. academic tracks and an executive education program. The Eccles School is also home to more than 16 institutes, centers and initiatives, which create societal impact through academic research, applied knowledge, leadership and innovation. Learn more at eccles.utah.edu.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary 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 of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate seminars, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a five-story innovation space and housing facility for all students. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.