December 2, 2022

The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship's commitment to teaching entrepreneurship as a mindset and continuous innovation to Drexel Dragons earned it a rise through the ranks for a third year in a row among the nation’s top schools for entrepreneurship education in rankings released this month by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

The 2023 ranking places the Close School as Pennsylvania's top entrepreneurship school for both undergraduate and graduate programs. In the Princeton Review's new regional rankings, the Close School came in as the No. 2 School for Entrepreneurship in the Mid-Atlantic region for both Graduate and Undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. Finally, in the national rankings, the Close School earned a top 20 placement as number 16 for undergraduates and number 26 for graduate programs.

Moving the Needle Forward

The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship gains more national and international attention as it becomes crystal clear that Close School's comprehensive programming, entrepreneurship resources, and education provides true practical value for founders and innovators.

As Dean Donna De Carolis says, “The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship continues to move the needle in innovative entrepreneurship education – as evidenced by our latest rankings. I am so proud of our faculty, staff, and most of all our wonderful students. Our students are brilliant and passionate and eager to solve problems – which is why we have created a new degree program — a BS in Sustainability and Innovation. Entrepreneurship education empowers everyone.”

Student Engagement, Competitions and Funding

A major contributing factor to the rankings comes from the funding and entrepreneurial endeavors started at each school, along with resources provided for entrepreneurship students.

Over the past five years, there have seen 105 companies started by Close School students which have collectively raised $50 million in funding. The Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship, open to all students, provides student entrepreneurs with physical space, mentoring and guidance from professors and peers, an exclusive entrepreneurship network, and resources to start or grow startups.

Close School competitions encourage students of all majors to explore their potential, search out new opportunities and hone the knowledge they have acquired to make a difference in the world by investing in their concepts. Competitions run by Baiada and Close School include Drexel Startups Fund, Future Fest, the Ciright Dragon Startup Competition, the Baiada Institute Incubator Competition, and Startup Fest.

Through these competitions, students have the opportunity to advance entrepreneurship skill applications, refine their pitches, receive invaluable feedback, win funding and/or venture build-out, get mentorship, and much more.

The Close School appreciates the support of its robust entrepreneurship network, generous donors, the Entrepreneurship Alumni Association (EAN) , and deep ties with the Philadelphia community which help further support entrepreneurship education for the students here. Focused on energizing the entrepreneurial spirit at Drexel, our community has recently donated a total of $124,526 in support of student success as part of Drexel University’s Day of Giving fundraiser.

Innovative Education, Programming, and Certifications

The Princeton Review rankings reflect the work that the Close School continues to bring to the world of entrepreneurship education. With new courses, certificates, and degree programs, the Close School continues to establish itself as a top place for entrepreneurs to learn and develop their skills as they start their own businesses, innovate within existing companies, or make their own path after graduation.

New certificates include Corporate Entrepreneurship, New Venture Creation, Social Entrepreneurship, and Food Innovation. Along with these new certificate programs, the Close School is proud to introduce a new bachelor’s degree in Sustainability and Innovation. As today’s employers become more conscious about the environment and their impact on it, there is an increased need for innovative workers with a focus on sustainability. No matter where students plan to be after graduation, regardless of their interests, a degree in Sustainability and Innovation will open new doors. Graduates from this new program will possess the skills that will be sought out by employers of the future as the world continually shifts towards a greener mindset.

Princeton Review Rankings

“Student interest in entrepreneurship studies has grown dramatically, as has the commitment to this field in higher education and the extraordinary support of the business community for these programs,” says Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief.

Based on the summer 2022 survey the Princeton Review conducted of nearly 300 schools with entrepreneurship programs, the rankings reportedly took into account more than 40 data points about the school programs, faculties, support, students and alumni. For those interested in learning more about the survey process, read more here.

For ambitious entrepreneurs, the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship is an excellent way to get ahead of the pack and become a starter. To learn more about the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship and all the programs offered click here.