Is a masters in entrepreneurship worth it?
Written by: Amy Boyington, Edited by: Valerie Black
Published: February 5, 2025
Whether you want to start your own business or gain the skills you need to spark innovation within an organization, a master's in entrepreneurship program can fit the bill. Find out more about the costs, curriculum, and potential job outcomes of this program.
What is a master's degree in entrepreneurship?
A master's in entrepreneurship program can help prepare you to start a new business or lead a startup. These programs teach financing, planning, analysis, and strategic leadership, as these concepts all relate to successful entrepreneurial ventures.
It differs from a master's in business administration (MBA) program in that its curriculum focuses on entrepreneurship-related concepts, like startup funding, new venture planning, and innovation. Meanwhile, MBA programs cover more general business concepts, like management and financing — although an MBA in entrepreneurship program also offers a few entrepreneurship courses.
Master's in entrepreneurship programs typically require about 30 credits and take up to two years to complete. Some online entrepreneurship master's programs offer accelerated formats with summer semesters to help you finish in about one year.
Skills gained with a master's in entrepreneurship program
A master's in entrepreneurship program offers several opportunities to learn new hard and soft skills that you can take with you in your future business endeavors.
Hard skills are measurable competencies that you can build through your courses and assignments. The following hard skills are commonly developed throughout a master's in entrepreneurship program:
- Business analytics
- Business planning
- Financial accounting
- Marketing
- Networking
- Product development
- Public relations
Soft skills are personality traits that you may already have but will likely grow as you complete your entrepreneurship studies. You can likely expect to build these soft skills as a master's in entrepreneurship student:
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Effective communication
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
A master's in entrepreneurship degree can lead to the following careers, with salary and job outlook data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
What jobs can you get with a master's in entrepreneurship degree?
Are graduates of a master's in entrepreneurship program in demand?
An entrepreneurship master's degree can lead to numerous leadership positions, many of which are in demand.
For example, the BLS projects jobs for management analysts, marketing managers, and project management specialists to grow by 11%, 8%, and 7%, respectively, from 2023 to 2033. To compare, the average BLS-projected growth rate for all occupations during the same period is 4%.
Does a master's degree in entrepreneurship have a good ROI?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of tuition and fees for graduate programs was $20,513 for the 2021–22 academic year.
A master's in entrepreneurship degree can potentially increase your chances of finding a career with a strong salary, yielding a promising ROI. The BLS lists the median salary for all business and financial occupations as $79,050 as of May 2023.
For example, graduates of this program can go on to secure careers like management analyst and marketing manager, positions which pay median salaries of close to or more than $100,000 per year. Additionally, on-the-job experience can help lead to senior-level advancements to increase salary potential.
How much does a master's degree in entrepreneurship cost?
A master's degree in entrepreneurship typically costs $17,000 to $58,000. Books and other expenses — like housing, transportation, and a computer — are additional costs you may need to budget for as well.
Federal grants and loans can help you pay for your master's degree program. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify.
You can also look for scholarships and grants through your school or third-party organizations. These funds can apply to your tuition and, sometimes, fees and books to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.