What you’ll learn in this article…
- Most HBCUs offer entrepreneurship as a concentration or minor, not a major.
- Jackson State's bachelor's program reports the highest published graduate earnings.
- UNCF's 2024 report credits HBCUs with $16.5 billion in yearly economic impact.
An HBCU entrepreneurship program is any credential at a historically Black college or university teaching venture creation: a major, a business-degree concentration, a minor or a graduate track, often tied to an incubator or pitch competition. UNCF's 2024 report puts HBCUs' annual economic impact at $16.5 billion.
Finding these programs takes work. Entrepreneurship usually sits inside management or business administration, and few schools publish incubator, funding and outcome details together. Comparing rankings, earnings data and funding programs side by side turns that search into a shortlist with clear next steps.
Format matters: undergraduate options are mostly on campus, so working professionals who want online study generally have to look at the graduate level.
Top HBCUs for Entrepreneurship: 10 Standout Programs Ranked
These ten HBCUs offer the strongest entrepreneurship offerings in our catalog for 2027, ranging from full bachelor's degrees in entrepreneurship to concentrations tucked inside business administration programs and one accelerated path to both a bachelor's and a master's. Each entry notes what the school does distinctively for students who intend to build something, whether that is their own venture, a family business, or an innovation role inside a larger company.
How we ranked these
- Pell enrollment and student need
- Tuition adjusted for local cost of living
- Entrepreneurship majors and concentrations offered
- Depth of required entrepreneurship coursework
- Retention and student-faculty ratio
- BEA Regional Price Parities (state cost of living) — bea.gov
- In-house program catalog data
- Independent program research
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
Morgan State University
Morgan State University is a public HBCU in Baltimore whose School of Business and Management offers a full Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship rather than a single elective course. Students complete 120 credits split across general education, a broad business core, and 30 credits of entrepreneurship coursework that includes four required courses in new venture creation and opportunity identification. Morgan is also one of a small group of HBCUs taking part in a national entrepreneurship scholarship program that supports MBA candidates and student-led acquisition clubs.
- 120 total credit hours
- 42 credits in general education and university requirements
- 48 credits in business core and supporting courses
- 30 credits in entrepreneurship major requirements
- 12 required credits: ENTR 351, 352, 380 and 452
- Electives from ENTR or business courses at the 300 to 499 level
- Grade of C or higher required in supporting, core and major courses
Entrepreneurship, B.S., Bachelor's — On-Campus
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University houses its entrepreneurship concentration inside a single Bachelor of Business Administration through the Broadwell College of Business and Economics, so students build business plan writing, risk evaluation, and launch skills without adding a second major. The university recently received more than $2.7 million in federal Commerce Department funding for small business development in Cumberland County and rural eastern North Carolina, which includes a new Entrepreneur Launch and Accelerator Program and a rural business center serving 23 counties.
- Entrepreneurship concentration inside a single BBA major
- Coursework in accounting, marketing, management and MIS
- Practice writing business plans and evaluating risk
- Prepares students as business consultants and mid-level managers
- No double major required
Bachelor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Concentration — On-Campus
Jackson State University
Jackson State University's College of Business offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Entrepreneurship alongside accounting, finance, management, marketing, and supply chain programs, and publishes a dedicated curriculum page for the major. The university also participates in the 2150 Center's technology-focused iLAB network, where students work on water technology commercialization with corporate partners who offer mentorship, pilot opportunities, and potential investment.
- Entrepreneurship major in the College of Business
- Dedicated curriculum page outlines coursework and requirements
- Financial aid and scholarship opportunities for eligible students
- SACSCOC accredited undergraduate business programs
Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship — On-Campus
Harris-Stowe State University
Harris-Stowe State University delivers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship emphasis through its Anheuser-Busch School of Business. The four-year curriculum pairs core accounting, marketing, finance, and management with courses in Small Business Management and Small Business Budgeting and Cash Management, plus a required Business Administration internship that puts students inside working companies before graduation.
- Four-year campus program
- Small Business Management course in the curriculum
- Small Business Budgeting and Cash Management coursework
- Required Business Administration internship
- Senior courses in business policy, international business and human resources
- Grade of C or higher required in all business core courses
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Emphasis — On-Campus
Alabama A & M University
Alabama A&M University offers a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship that prepares students to launch their own businesses, join growth-oriented and innovative firms, or apply an entrepreneurial lens inside family enterprises and other fields. The program leans on experiential learning and stresses transferable critical thinking skills that carry into business ownership, consulting, and operations leadership.
- Prepares students to start and run a business
- Experiential learning approach across the curriculum
- Career paths include business consultant and chief operating officer
- Also suited to family business and growth-oriented firms
- Builds transferable skills and critical thinking
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship — On-Campus
Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, one of five concentrations that also include accounting, banking and finance, and fundraising and philanthropy. The Dallas college holds a Texas Certificate of Authorization to award the entrepreneurship degree and is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, and it has taken part in an HBCU entrepreneurship fellowship network hosted by Rutgers.
- One of five business administration concentrations
- Other options include accounting and banking and finance
- Texas Certificate of Authorization for the degree
- Institution accredited by TRACS
- Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Concentration — On-Campus
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University awards a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship concentration, one of five concentrations in the degree, taught on campus with a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Coursework covers spotting opportunities, designing a business model, funding it, marketing it, and launching it, and business majors have access to internships, faculty-student research, and financial aid reserved for them.
- One of five BBA concentrations
- Covers opportunity spotting, business model design and funding
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management course
- Business, Society and Sustainability and Social Media Marketing offered
- 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Internships and student-faculty research collaboration
- Scholarships and aid exclusive to business majors
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Concentration — On-Campus
North Carolina A & T State University
North Carolina A&T State University's BS in Management with a concentration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship sits inside a business school that also runs a Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Innovation. That center operates a 10-week R.E.A.L. Entrepreneurship program, a WBENC Entrepreneur Incubator with mentorship and seed funding access, and micro-internships for students and alumni, giving students an unusual amount of launch infrastructure alongside their coursework. The Aggie Student Entrepreneurship Club adds networking with local and alumni founders.
- Coursework in entrepreneurial finance, marketing and consulting
- New Venture Lab matches selected students with mentors
- E-Lab students develop business concepts ready for funding
- Aggie Student Entrepreneurship Club links students to alumni founders
- Prepares students for startups, franchises and family business
- Suits entrepreneurial employees who expand organizations into new markets
Bachelor of Science in Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration — On-Campus
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University awards a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship concentration on its Lorman, Mississippi campus. The 120-credit, four-year degree runs face to face with fall and spring entry, and students pick from six concentrations while completing a core in management, marketing, finance, and accounting.
- 120 credit hours over four years
- Face-to-face instruction on the Lorman campus
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- Six concentrations including data analytics and finance
- Core coursework in management, marketing, finance and accounting
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Concentration — On-Campus
Hampton University
Hampton University's School of Business offers an accelerated pathway that awards both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Qualified undergraduates begin approved graduate coursework near the end of junior year and continue into the master's after the bachelor's degree, working through a practice-driven curriculum built on customer discovery, new venture creation, and pitch development. Graduates target roles as startup founders, innovation or strategy managers, and corporate innovation analysts.
- Awards both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science
- Graduate coursework begins in the fourth year
- Covers customer discovery and market validation
- Includes pitch development and venture storytelling
- Practice-driven, project-based curriculum with mentorship and coaching
- Admission requires declaring the Entrepreneurship and Innovation major
- Prepares students as startup founders or innovation strategy managers
Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Bachelor's — On-Campus
Which HBCUs Offer Entrepreneurship Majors, Minors and Concentrations?
Entrepreneurship at HBCUs is far more often a concentration or minor inside a business degree than a stand-alone major. Students searching for a "BS in Entrepreneurship" will often find the subject folded into management or business administration instead. Read the credential name closely: it determines what appears on your transcript and diploma.
Degree-Granting Options: Howard as the Clear Example
Howard University documents its offering as a concentration. The official curriculum lists it as "Management, concentration in Entrepreneurship," part of the bachelor's BBA in Management, which requires 120 credits to graduate.
Howard also lists an undergraduate entrepreneurship certificate, which works differently:
- Eligibility: open to business students only.
- Structure: completed outside the major, with coursework beyond the 120-credit degree requirement.
- Transcript: not shown on the official transcript.
- Required courses: MGMT 350, MGMT 353, MGMT 355 and MGMT 356.
A concentration sits inside the degree, while the certificate adds work on top and carries no transcript notation. Plan how you will document the certificate on a resume or application.
Credit Programs Versus Noncredit Accelerators
Keep two categories apart. Majors, minors, concentrations and certificates carry credit and appear in a catalog. Incubators, accelerators and pitch programs usually run alongside coursework and offer mentoring, space or funding without a degree credential. Howard's PNC Center for Entrepreneurship is the kind of campus hub that supports students beyond the classroom, but a center is not itself a credential.
What to Confirm Before You Apply
Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Hampton, Tuskegee, Jackson State and Xavier University of Louisiana are all worth checking for entrepreneurship study. For each, confirm in the current catalog the exact program name, the degree level, and whether entrepreneurship is offered as a major, minor, concentration or certificate. Program names and requirements change from year to year, and the Howard course list above comes from its fall 2022 curriculum, so verify it against the current catalog as well.
Earnings Snapshot: What Graduates Earn After Finishing
Among the HBCU entrepreneurship programs with published federal outcomes, Jackson State University's bachelor's program reports the highest graduate earnings.
Campus Incubators, Accelerators and Funding Programs: What's Active Now
Most of these programs sit outside degree coursework and are open to HBCU students. A few reach further: the Better Futures Pre-Accelerator also admits alumni, the Idea-to-App Accelerator targets first-time and non-technical founders, and the Education Innovation Grant funds institutions rather than individuals. Status reflects what each organizer had published as of fall 2026, and dollar amounts appear only where the program states them, so confirm deadlines and cohort dates directly before you apply.
| Program | Host or Organizer | Who Can Apply | Funding or Benefits | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship (Prime Incubator) | Howard University and PNC | HBCU student entrepreneurs and participants in the Center's entrepreneurship programs | Up to $10,000 in funding, one-to-one mentorship, business-management workshops and networking events | Active: the second Prime Incubator cohort began January 26, 2026, and spring 2026 HBCU Consulting Lab programming was scheduled |
| Startup Scholars Program | Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship | Students across the Center's network of more than 101 HBCUs | Up to $10,000 in funding, one-to-one mentorship, business-management workshops and networking events | Active within the Center's 2026 programming |
| Better Futures Pre-Accelerator | HBCU Founders Initiative, in collaboration with the Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship | HBCU students and alumni building technology-enabled businesses or solutions to real-world challenges | Free for selected participants and partnering HBCUs; eligibility for funding opportunities, though post-program funding is not guaranteed. Runs as an 8-week fall cohort or an accelerated 6-week spring cohort with weekly virtual sessions and in-person programming at partner HBCUs | Active: accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort through December 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Idea-to-App Accelerator | Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship | First-time and non-technical entrepreneurs | Expert-led support over 15 weeks to build and grow a technology application | Listed on the Center's current program page; confirm next cohort dates with the Center |
| Entrepreneurship Education Innovation Grant Program | Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship | HBCUs developing entrepreneurship opportunities (institutions, not individual founders) | $25,000 to create or grow entrepreneurship courses, centers, programs, workshops and related initiatives for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community | Listed as an active Center program |
HBCU Pitch Competitions and Startup Grants Worth Entering
Magic City Classic Business Pitch Competition
The Birmingham event at Topgolf, held during Magic City Classic week, has the most current published details. Eligibility in 2026 was limited to Alabama HBCU students, recent graduates (within three years), and faculty or staff, and the team lead had to be an Alabama HBCU member. Entry was free, and the application deadline was October 16, 2026.2 That date has passed, and a 2027 window has not been announced.
Sources differ slightly on the cash pool, reporting "nearly" or exactly $20,000. First, second and third place earned $4,000, $3,000 and $2,000, and teams from Alabama A&M took home $12,000 combined. Teams traveling more than 25 miles received a $50 travel stipend.
Pre-Competition and Follow-On Support
- digitalundivided START: A three-week virtual incubator added in 2026. Participants finished it before pitching, and each completer received a $250 stipend. Applicants must be 18 or older with a U.S.-based or planned business. No separate 2026 deadline is confirmed.
- Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator: Alabama Collective pitch winners earn automatic entry and up to $5,000 in nondilutive funding. It is unclear whether that money is guaranteed to every Magic City winner.
- HBCU Founders Initiative: Its Better Futures pitch competition has awarded more than $50,000 since 2023.4 Current prize breakdowns, eligibility and dates could not be confirmed. Its eight-week campus pre-accelerators, run with UNCF TechVentures, help teams validate a problem and build a working product, but cash awards were not confirmed.
Preparing
Students typically finish a program like START first, then rehearse a tight pitch around a validated problem. Check each organizer's page for current terms before applying.
Related Articles
Online and Hybrid Entrepreneurship Options at HBCUs
Online entrepreneurship study at HBCUs lives mostly at the graduate level, because every ranked undergraduate program on this page is delivered on campus. That includes Morgan State, Jackson State, Alabama A&M, Winston-Salem State, North Carolina A&T and Hampton, along with the rest of the list. If you want a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship, expect to be in the classroom.
HBCU MBA Pathways for Working Professionals
The MBA is where flexibility shows up, though entrepreneurship concentrations are less common than the online label suggests.
- Prairie View A&M (TX): Lists an MBA with an Entrepreneurship concentration, reported as online or hybrid. Confirm current details with the school, since that description comes from a nonofficial source.
- Fayetteville State (NC): Reportedly offers an online MBA with an Entrepreneurship concentration through the Broadwell College of Business and Economics. Verify it directly as well.
- Central State (OH) and North Carolina Central: Both offer online MBAs, but their official pages do not show an entrepreneurship concentration. Central State places entrepreneurship in its undergraduate BSBA.
- Howard (DC): The MBA is in person only.
Graduate tuition for these programs is not in the data reviewed here, so request a current per-credit rate from each graduate admissions office. Do not substitute undergraduate net price.
Who Online Suits, and What You Give Up
Online formats fit working professionals and side-hustle founders who need to build a venture around a full-time job. The trade-off is access. Campus incubators, mentor matching and pitch events, such as the E-Lab at North Carolina A&T, are built around in-person participation. Ask any online program whether remote students can join them. Our HBCU MBA programs guide covers graduate options in more depth.
Alumni Founders and Ecosystem Partners Behind HBCU Entrepreneurship
HBCU entrepreneurship increasingly runs on networks rather than single courses, with alumni founders, funded centers and outside partners reinforcing one another.
Alumni Founders Who Set the Bar
- Janice Bryant Howroyd (North Carolina A&T State University): Founded ActOne Group in 1978 from a small Beverly Hills, California, office and grew it into a global workforce-solutions company.1 UNCF describes her as the first African American woman to build and operate a billion-dollar company.
- Earl G. Graves Sr. (Morgan State University): Launched Black Enterprise in 1970 to give Black entrepreneurs, executives and investors business visibility and financial guidance.1
Centers That Signal Program Depth
The Center for Black Entrepreneurship at Spelman and Morehouse launched with $10 million in anchor funding from Bank of America and was developed with the Black Economic Alliance Foundation. It offers curriculum, mentorship and investor access, and Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse School of Medicine students can also use its coursework. FAMU's Center for Innovation and Social Impact connects student and community founders with alumni, academic experts and experienced professionals.
The Babson College Connection
Babson has become a key outside partner. During the 2024 to 2025 period, almost 100 faculty members and more than 50 students representing 33 HBCUs took part in Babson programs. Clark Atlanta hosted the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators in May 2025, where HBCU faculty trained to teach entrepreneurship more effectively. Babson Build, which teaches entrepreneurial thinking and action, hosted students from 15 HBCUs in summer 2025, including an Allen University senior preparing to launch a financial-consulting firm.2 Babson also runs a case-writing program with HBCUs.
When comparing schools, ask whether entrepreneurship faculty have joined these trainings. It's a practical signal of teaching quality.
How to Choose an HBCU Entrepreneurship Program
The right program depends less on a school's name than on how well its structure fits what you plan to do after graduation. Weigh these factors in order.
Start With the Credential and the Faculty
Decide whether you need a full major, a minor that complements another degree, or a concentration inside a business degree. A major gives you the deepest sequence of courses. A minor or concentration suits students who want startup skills alongside engineering, nursing, agriculture or the arts.
Then check business accreditation. AACSB is the most recognized standard, though other accreditors also signal a vetted curriculum. Finally, look at who teaches. Faculty who have founded or funded companies bring practical judgment that a purely academic instructor may not.
Weigh Funding, Place and Price
- Funding access: Look for an on-campus incubator, seed grants and pitch competitions you can enter as an undergraduate.
- Location: A school near an active startup hub offers internships, mentors and investors within reach.
- Net price: Compare what you would actually pay after aid with the earnings graduates report, not the sticker tuition alone.
Match the Program to Your Goal
If you want to launch a business now, favor schools with incubators, small grants and hands-on venture courses. If you would rather join an early-stage company, prioritize strong internship pipelines and a regional employer network. If an MBA is the long-term plan, a solid business foundation and accredited coursework matter most, and you can build the entrepreneurial experience later.
Graduate-level decisions carry their own tradeoffs in format, cost and career outcomes. Our guide to HBCU MBA programs covers those in detail and is the better starting point if you are already past the bachelor's stage.
Additional HBCU Entrepreneurship Programs to Consider
The directory below covers more entrepreneurship programs at historically Black colleges and universities, including business-school concentrations, stand-alone majors and an accelerated adult format. Each entry lists the degree, location, delivery format and average net price where the school reports one, so you can compare options beyond the programs featured in the ranking above.
