UMD Climbs Ranks in Undergrad Entrepreneurship

College Park, Md. - November 13, 2019 - The University of Maryland is once again recognized as an educational leader in entrepreneurship, according to the “Top 50 Best Undergrad Programs for Entrepreneurs in 2020” rankings published by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

Thanks in part to efforts from the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, new rankings place UMD at No. 7 for undergraduate entrepreneurship and No. 3 among public schools. This marks the university’s fifth consecutive year in the top 10, up from No. 8 last year.

"The information for this ranking is truly a collaborative effort with data coming from several UMD innovation and entrepreneurship units,” says Holly DeArmond, managing director at the Dingman Center. “The Dingman Center is a key driver in areas including the percentage of students actively and successfully involved in entrepreneurial endeavors, the number and reach of mentorship programs, experiential components, and the level of support for school-sponsored business plan competitions."

According to the magazine, the rankings examine over 300 colleges and universities across the United States and abroad, and assess each school’s faculty, “dedication to providing access to world-class mentors, professors and alumni,” and how well they promote “an environment where ideas can flourish.”

The Dingman Center, located at the Smith School, is one of the nation’s leaders in entrepreneurial research, education and practice. One example of its notable programs is the annual Pitch Dingman business competition for UMD students, who compete for more than $30,000 in startup funding by pitching to judges who are experts in entrepreneurship, angel investing and venture capital.

To read more about the University of Maryland’s ranking, go to www.entrepreneur.com/topcolleges.