The Best Associate's in Entrepreneurship Programs for 2027

Gateway Technical College's Small Business Entrepreneurship associate degree is one of more than 65 associate degree and technical diploma programs at the Kenosha, WI college, sitting alongside Accounting, Business Management, and Supply Chain Management in the business program lineup. Unlike the other three schools in this ranking, Gateway does not list an online option for this program: instruction is delivered on campus. The college's Career & Employment Services team works with students throughout the program to map career paths and prepare for the job search.

Gateway's 90.9 Program Score is the lowest of the top four programs, paired with a 51% graduation rate and the same $4,485 in-state, $6,728 out-of-state tuition split as Fox Valley and NWTC, a $2,243 in-state to out-of-state gap. At 10,100 students, it's a mid-sized campus. The on-campus-only format makes Gateway the choice for students who want in-person instruction specifically and don't need the online flexibility that Fox Valley, NWTC, and Southeast Tech all offer.

Central Penn College runs its Entrepreneurship & Small Business program as an Associate in Science degree delivered fully online, and the college's own program list places a standalone Entrepreneurship & Small Business Certificate right alongside it, a shorter credential built from the same foundation for students who want to stack it into the AS or complete it on its own. Central Penn frames its entire catalog around what it calls "hands-on education for in-demand careers," pointing to experiential learning components, field-specific internships, and professionally active faculty as the throughline across its business degrees, entrepreneurship included.

The numbers back a small, selective program: Central Penn earns a Program Score of 89.5, the fifth-highest among associate's entrepreneurship programs nationally, built on a 51% graduation rate and an 18% admit rate, the tightest of any program in this ranking (IPEDS). Enrollment sits at just 684 students college-wide. As a private for-profit school, tuition is flat at $18,324 a year no matter where a student lives, which is real money next to public options: Ivy Tech charges $5,154 in-state and Moraine Park charges $4,462, so two years at Central Penn runs about $26,340 more than two years at Ivy Tech in-state. That premium buys a fully online format and a certificate-stacking option neither public program packages the same way.

Ivy Tech Community College offers Entrepreneurship at 10 campuses across Indiana, and the program page breaks out exactly what each location provides: a short-term Entrepreneurship Certificate, a longer Technical Certificate, and the Associate of Applied Science, or some combination of the three. The Indianapolis campus, the record ranked here, offers all three tracks, so a student can start with the short-term certificate and ladder up to the AAS without switching schools. The program's stated hook is applied: students "gain the opportunity to pitch to potential investors" as part of turning a business idea into a real venture.

Ivy Tech's Program Score of 89.4 ranks sixth nationally among associate's entrepreneurship programs, resting on a 40% graduation rate (IPEDS), typical for an open-access community college system this size; enrollment across the system is 110,710. Tuition is $5,154 a year for Indiana residents and $9,935 for out-of-state students, a $4,781 annual penalty, or $9,562 over a two-year AAS, for students who live outside Indiana. No admit rate applies; Ivy Tech is open enrollment. This program fits an Indiana resident who wants the lowest-cost, closest-to-home entry point into entrepreneurship training, with a built-in certificate-to-degree ladder across 10 campuses.

Moraine Park's Small Business Entrepreneurship program is a 64-credit Associate of Applied Science built around two years of hands-on training in business planning, financing, marketing, customer service, financial management, and business communications, with students pitching their own venture ideas as part of the coursework. The program page lists Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac, and West Bend campuses plus an online option, and course highlights include Marketing Principles, Entrepreneurship Ventures and Innovation, and Purchasing and Inventory Control. Graduates aim at roles the page lists directly: Owner/Operator, Founder, Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner, and Proprietor, with a stackable Entrepreneur Technical Diploma along the same pathway.

Moraine Park posts a high graduation rate of 58%, backing a Program Score of 87.5 (IPEDS), and its $4,462 in-state tuition is the cheapest sticker price in the group ($6,727 out-of-state). The college's own total cost estimate for finishing the degree, $11,436.80 in tuition and fees, runs about $2,513 above two years of the base in-state tuition rate ($8,924), which points to real program fees stacked on top of the headline number. The school also cites its own labor-market data, sourced from Lightcast, putting local wages for these roles between $48,827 and $90,345, a figure separate from national BLS averages for business occupations. This program fits a Wisconsin resident who wants strong completion odds at the lowest published price.

Ensign College's Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship program is built first as a Certificate, and the page is explicit that adding general-education coursework converts it into a fully transferable Associate of Science degree; the same certificate also feeds directly into the college's Business Management bachelor's and AAS tracks. Coursework covers accounting, marketing, office technology, entrepreneurship, and management, with stated outcomes that include applying basic accounting principles, building Excel skills, drafting a small-business start-up plan, and running social media marketing strategy and analytics for a small venture. Ensign is a private nonprofit college in Salt Lake City that folds its religious mission into the program's stated aims alongside the business skills.

Ensign's Program Score of 82.8 is modest but still reflects a functioning program: a 43% graduation rate (IPEDS) against 7,594 total students enrolled. Tuition is flat at $4,004 a year for every student, a low rate, about $458 less per year than Moraine Park's in-state rate and $28,640 less over two years than Central Penn ($8,008 versus $36,648). No admit rate is published. This program fits a cost-conscious student who wants the cheapest path to a credential here and is comfortable starting with a certificate before deciding whether to add the gen-ed courses for the full AS.

Northwest State's entrepreneurship track lives inside its Associate of Applied Business lineup, alongside Accounting, Banking & Finance, Business Management, Human Resource Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Office Administration degrees. Students who want a shorter commitment can instead complete the standalone Entrepreneurship Certificate, one of six certificate programs the business division offers. The college also lists transfer options for students planning to continue toward a bachelor's degree after finishing the AAB.

The numbers back the ranking. Northwest State posts a 46% graduation rate, and a Program Score of 82.6 that ranks it #9 nationally for 2027. In-state tuition runs $4,616 a year; out-of-state students pay $9,088, nearly double. At 4,082 total students, it's a mid-sized commuter college in rural northwest Ohio, best suited to Ohio residents who want a two-year credential with a certificate fallback and a clear transfer path rather than an online format; the program is not offered online.

Casper College's entrepreneurship program is an Associate of Applied Science with no prerequisites, built for two outcomes: starting a business or stepping into a critical role at an existing one. The program page points graduates toward entry-level work as an analyst, sales representative, market researcher, or personal financial advisor if they don't launch a venture right away. Coursework can be completed partly online, and the degree applies toward an online applied science degree at the University of Wyoming at Casper, giving graduates a built-in path to continue their education without leaving Wyoming's college system.

Casper's Program Score of 81.9 ranks it #10 nationally on a 43% graduation rate. Tuition is the story here: $3,150 in-state, one of the lowest on this list, versus $9,450 out-of-state, exactly three times as much. That gap makes Casper a strong fit for Wyoming residents but a poor value for out-of-state students, who would pay more than at Hudson Valley or Northwest State to attend a smaller campus of 3,403 students.

Hudson Valley's Entrepreneurship A.A.S. is built for two kinds of students: first-time founders and existing small business owners looking to grow. The curriculum covers entrepreneurial finance, small business management, marketing, and the legal issues small business owners face, and every student completes an internship in their own community before finishing with an actionable business plan the program describes as ready for financing and implementation. Students who want a shorter commitment can take the college's stackable entrepreneurship microcredentials instead, and the program lists online options for students who can't attend in person.

Hudson Valley posts a 35% graduation rate and a Program Score of 80.2, good for #11 nationally in 2027. In-state tuition is $5,056, exactly half the $10,112 charged out-of-state. At 9,227 students, it's a large school by enrollment, which fits the program page's claim that non-farm proprietorships now account for more than 20% of all U.S. jobs. It suits students who want the internship-plus-capstone structure and are willing to pay a premium over Casper or Northwest State for a larger community college in the Albany area.

College of Southern Idaho stacks its entrepreneurship credential in three steps: a Basic Technical Certificate endorsed by the Western Association of Food Chains, a one-year Intermediate Technical Certificate, and a second year that completes the Associate of Applied Science in Entrepreneurship and Business Operations. Coursework covers management philosophies and theories, organizational psychology, business strategy development, teamwork, and analysis-based decision-making. Students eyeing a bachelor's degree are told to plan the transfer with an advisor, and the program flags a NextGen scholarship worth up to $3,500 in tuition and $5,000 in housing per year for qualifying students.

CSI's 33% graduation rate is on the lower end here, and its Program Score of 78.9 ranks it #12. What sets it apart is tuition parity: in-state students pay $4,560 and out-of-state students pay $6,840, a 1.5x gap, the narrowest of any program here (Casper charges out-of-state students 3x its in-state rate; Hudson Valley charges 2x). At 10,176 students, CSI is a large school, making it a fit for students who want to test entrepreneurship coursework at the certificate level before committing to the full AAS, or for out-of-state students who don't want to pay a steep nonresident premium.

Forsyth Technical Community College offers an Entrepreneurship associate degree in applied science. The college says the program covers marketing, finance and strategic planning, and builds skills in business planning, financing and operations. It lists hands-on experience through internships and business incubation programs, along with faculty who have real-world experience and networking with local business leaders. The degree takes two years and is offered in day and online classes. Career tracks named on the page include founder, CEO, managing director, president and director of operations, and the page cites an average yearly salary range of $80,000 and 5.2% job growth. The college also points students to financial aid, grants and scholarships, and its Forsyth Tech Cares support services.

The program has a Program Score of 78.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. Forsyth Tech is open admission. Its graduation rate is 34%. Tuition is $1,824 in-state and $6,432 out-of-state. The degree fits people who want to start or run a small business and need a flexible, low-cost schedule, including working adults who can take classes online.

Anne Arundel Community College offers an Entrepreneurship Associate of Applied Science, which Maryland classifies as a career degree meant to build workforce skills. Students learn to develop a business plan, obtain resources, manage finances, select employees and pursue international opportunities. The college says classes are taught by entrepreneurs and business executives, and that students have access to advisors and mentors and can compete for seed funds and scholarships. Courses run during the day, at night, online or in a hybrid format. A shorter Entrepreneurship credit certificate feeds into the degree. AACC lists transfer partnerships for the A.A.S. with the Maryland Institute College of Art, Salisbury University and the University of Baltimore, and the department says graduates often start businesses or move on to four-year schools.

AACC is open admission, and federal data show a 31% graduation rate, which is typical of community colleges with many part-time and transfer students. Tuition is $7,032 for in-state students and $10,200 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 77.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits students who want to launch or grow a small business, or who plan to transfer, and who need a flexible schedule at a low price.

Lorain County Community College offers an Associate of Applied Business in Entrepreneurship designed to prepare students to start their own business or manage an existing one, with a focus on skills needed in a startup environment. It builds on the introductory skills covered in the Entrepreneurship One-Year Certificate courses and goes deeper into accounting and finance, communications, marketing and management. The page states that the program can be completed online. After earning the associate degree, many students transfer to one of the colleges in the school's University Partnership program or to other Ohio four-year universities to earn a bachelor's degree. A program coordinator handles questions.

Lorain County is a public community college with open admission. The federal graduation rate is 31%, a figure that reflects the transfer pathway many students take. In-state tuition is $4,432 and out-of-state tuition is $8,373. The program has a Program Score of 76.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a low-cost start, flexible online study, and a stackable route from certificate to associate to a four-year degree.

Motlow State Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Business with an Entrepreneurship concentration, built for students who plan to start or grow a business rather than transfer to a university. Coursework covers the entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial finance, small business management, marketing, supply chain and legal issues for small business owners. The school says the degree is open to everyone but is especially designed for students who hold a certificate or diploma from a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Students with mid-management experience can take BUSN 2905 for credit in place of BUSN courses, at six hours per year of experience beyond three years, up to a maximum of twelve credit hours. Motlow lists career paths as business owner, financial institution or nonprofit roles, and agencies that help people start businesses.

Motlow has a 34% graduation rate and is open admission, so there is no admit rate to clear. In-state tuition is $4,440, compared with $17,424 for out-of-state students. The program is flagged as available online. It earns a Program Score of 76.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The program fits working adults, technical-college graduates and aspiring small business owners who want a two-year applied degree and a low in-state price.

Madison Area Technical College offers a Small Business Entrepreneurship associate degree of 63 credits, which the college says students can finish in two years. Delivery is either 100% online or a mix of online and in-person classes, and students can attend full or part time. Topics include small business appraisal and opportunities, writing business and marketing plans, selling presentations, social media campaigns and legal principles. The curriculum adds courses in accounting fundamentals, operations management, customer engagement, global entrepreneurship and AI for small business marketing, and students choose between a small business internship and an etiquette and professionalism course. Madison College also runs an annual Madison College Challenge business plan competition with micro-investment prizes.

Madison College is open admission, and federal data show a 29% graduation rate. In-state tuition is $4,485, against $6,649 for out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 76 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits aspiring owners who want a broad grounding in running a small company at a technical college price and who need a part-time or online schedule. The 29% graduation rate suggests many students leave before finishing, so those who plan to continue should ask about advising and transfer options.

Union University's Entrepreneurial Leadership program is housed in its MCUTS department and is delivered in a hybrid format. The page describes a program for students who want to launch, lead and grow organizations, whether a business, a ministry or another organization, combining entrepreneurial theory with practical application. It is grounded in Christ-centered education and aims to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, practical skills and a Christian leadership foundation. The associate pathway is an Associate in General Studies with an Entrepreneurial Leadership major, and the same page lists a Bachelor in Entrepreneurial Leadership as a continuing pathway, with 2026-27 catalog entries for both. The page does not give credit hours, a course list or an internship requirement.

Federal data show Union graduates 66% of its students and admits 60% of applicants. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $36,005, since Union is a private school. The program ranks on a Program Score of 75 out of 100. It fits students who want a faith-centered start in entrepreneurship, with the option to continue into the bachelor's pathway, and who prefer a hybrid format over a fully on-campus schedule.

Columbus State Community College offers the Entrepreneurship A.A.S. within its Business Management program. The page calls it a foundational business degree with a strong overview of business functions and chances to specialize in certificate areas. Courses lean on team projects, presentations and case analysis. The curriculum includes Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship: Business Plan Development, Negotiation, Digital Marketing, Corporate Finance, QuickBooks and Operations Management, and it ends with a Business Seminar/Practicum. The degree totals 60 credits. Classes are taught face to face and in distance learning formats, and most distance courses require web conferencing. Graduates are meant to advance with their current employer or start or expand a small business. Transfer options listed include Franklin University, Ohio University, Miami University and Ohio Dominican University.

This is a non-selective, open-admission program that requires a high school diploma or GED, and students must keep the college's minimum GPA. Federal data shows a 28% graduation rate at Columbus State. In-state tuition is $5,488 and out-of-state tuition is $11,224. The program's Program Score is 74.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits aspiring small business owners and working adults who want a practical plan-writing curriculum with an online option, and who may later transfer to a bachelor's program.

Mott Community College offers an Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management A.A.S., a two-year applied degree for students who want to start a business, join a family business, expand a current one or work for a small company. The core builds business, analytical, personal and problem-solving skills, with a base in accounting, law, marketing and management. The published degree pathway lays out a full-time sequence over two years. It begins with Entrepreneurial Mindset and Opportunity Analysis, and later courses include Financial Management for Small Business, which covers funding sources, financial statements and loan proposals, and Business Plan Development, where students evaluate a business concept and write a plan for their own venture. A supervised work-experience course places students in an approved training situation.

Mott is a public community college with open admission, so there is no admit rate to clear. The graduation rate is 32%, typical of commuter colleges where many students attend part time. In-state tuition is $7,185 and out-of-state tuition is $10,240. The program holds a Program Score of 74.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits budget-conscious students who want a practical credential for self-employment and can build a plan around their own venture.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers an Entrepreneurship Associate of Applied Science degree for people who want to start a business or advance in their current field. The curriculum builds a foundation in communication, math, science and business management. Students can attend in person at the Richland Campus or Blair Center for daytime classes, or complete the program in an asynchronous online format on Brightspace with no set class times. The college awards credit for prior learning, military training and technical certifications. The page lists transfer agreements with Saint Francis University and Seton Hill University for students who want to continue to a bachelor's degree.

Federal data shows a 38% graduation rate, and Penn Highlands is an open-admission college. In-state tuition is $7,260 and out-of-state tuition is $11,070. The program earns a Program Score of 74.2 out of 100, the basis for its ranking. It suits adults who want a flexible schedule, veterans and others with experience that can convert to credit, and students who plan to transfer into a four-year entrepreneurship or business program after the associate degree.

Northcentral Technical College's Small Business Entrepreneurship associate degree runs 62 to 63 credits and is designed for current and aspiring small business owners. It covers accounting, managing and marketing, with a focus on the skills needed to build and grow a business. Courses include Entrepreneurial Innovation and Opportunity Recognition, Entrepreneurship Business Plan Development, Entrepreneurship Start-Up Operations and Growth, Principles of Sales, QuickBooks and Business Law. Graduates are expected to develop a business plan, perform marketing functions and develop an operational plan. The program is available 100% online and at Wausau, Antigo, Medford, Phillips, Spencer and Wittenberg, and the college says it integrates artificial intelligence as a professional support tool. Credit for prior learning is available.

NTC is open admission, and federal data show a 45% graduation rate. In-state tuition is $4,485, against $6,728 for out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 73.8 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits people who already run or plan to launch a small business and need to study around work, since every campus site and the online option are listed as 100% available. Students who want a specific industry focus may find the curriculum broad by design.