Maryland Remains A Top School for Student Entrepreneurs

Maryland Remains A Top School for Student Entrepreneurs

According to the annual rankings of the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine, the University of Maryland, College Park has moved from 18^th to 14^th place for undergraduate rankings and the graduate program is ranked as 24^th for entrepreneurially-minded students.

These rankings are based upon the level of commitment to entrepreneurship inside and outside the classroom, the percentage of faculty, students and alumni actively and successfully involved in entrepreneurial endeavors, the number and reach of mentorship programs, the amount of scholarships and grants for entrepreneurial studies and projects and support for school-sponsored business plan competitions.

Two drivers of entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland are the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business is recognized nationally for its innovative teaching methods that combine classroom activities, practical experience and cultural immersion programs. The programs at the Dingman Center include: Pitch Dingman, Cupid’s Cup Business Competition, China Business Plan Competition, Dingman Center Angels, Technology Transfer and Dingman Jumpstart.

The A. James Clark School of Engineering's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) is renowned for its campus and national leadership in undergraduate entrepreneurship programs, including the Hinman CEOs Program, the nation's first living-learning entrepreneurship program, and its highly successful annual $75,000 technology business plan competition. In 2011-2012, Mtech offered 18 entrepreneurship course and more than $335K in scholarship funding.

UMCP was ranked 4th in the nation in 2013 for aspiring entrepreneurs by unigo.com and the state of Maryland was named #1 in entrepreneurship and innovation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the summer of 2012.

For more information, visit: http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/engaged/release.cfm?ArticleID=2784

September 9, 2012