The University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program is one of the best in the nation, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. The magazines' joint ranking placed UD at No. 38 in its 2022 list of the top 50 undergraduate schools for entrepreneurial studies and No. 8 in the Northeast. 

This marks the University’s third appearance on the list, celebrating its standing among the top 10% of such programs. Nationwide, more than 500 colleges and universities offer entrepreneurship programs, but few empower budding entrepreneurs the way Horn does. Horn began in 2012 and has grown exponentially every year since, impacting thousands annually.

“With entrepreneurship education becoming an increasingly critical component in universities, it’s an honor to continue to be recognized as a top school for entrepreneurship,” said Dan Freeman, founding director of Horn Entrepreneurship and associate professor of marketing. “We share this recognition with the entire campus community.” 

Horn combines a personalized approach with lessons learned from successful entrepreneurs and evidence-based best practices. The resulting curricula go far beyond traditional classroom experiences. Blue Hens bent on changing the world learn by doing, building their own businesses from scratch with support from faculty, staff and business leaders. Participating students receive mentoring, professional development, valuable connections and funding opportunities. Last year, startups supported by Horn received more than $9 million in funding.  

Horn is part of the UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, which is accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Horn offers an entrepreneurship major and several cross-disciplinary minors. Enrollment in entrepreneurship degree programs and courses reached record numbers in the previous academic year. Almost 1,600 Blue Hens participated in a Horn offering last year with 108 majors from across UD represented.

“We are proud that Horn Entrepreneurship is once again recognized as a top program,” Lerner College Dean Bruce Weber said. “Horn exemplifies our mission to provide inspirational education and pioneering scholarship to beneficially transform business and society.”

Alumni and current students are changing the face of the world. Some are committed to social impact such as Garry Johnson of First Founders and Zack Jones of Dual School. Some are disrupting industries like Maya Nazareth, founder of Alchemize Fightwear. Still others are influencing new industries like Dan Goodman and Alex Pickett, co-founders of Ultimate Tournament, an esports betting platform. 

Entrepreneurship education at UD does not center solely on startups. The approach focuses on holistic preparation that includes developing the mindset, skillset and means needed to create value from new ideas and adapt, thrive and lead amidst rapid change. Many graduates take this entrepreneurial mindset into innovative positions with established companies, social ventures and startups dreamed up by others.  

The top ranking by The Princeton Review and  Entrepreneur magazine adds to the growing list of accolades representing all aspects of Horn, a list that includes the GCEC Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education Finalist for Youth award (2019), GCEC Award for Exceptional Activities in Entrepreneurship Across Disciplines (2020), U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Growth Accelerator Fund Award (2020, 2021), and USASBE 2021 Model Emerging Program Award finalist place.

Horn Entrepreneurship

Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.

Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics

For more than 100 years, the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics has invested in its students and communities, giving back philanthropically and with its valuable skills. A top-ranked business school, the Lerner College creates impactful initiatives that advocate for diversity and inclusion across industries. Its 150-plus faculty conduct research on meaningful topics like economic development in developing nations, cybersecurity, women’s leadership, corporate social responsibility and more. Through collaborations with students and alumni, the Lerner College creates businesses that work to solve society’s greatest problems.