At the University of St. Thomas, entrepreneurship isn’t just for future business owners – and the university’s approach to teaching it is gaining national recognition.
St. Thomas’ Schulze School of Entrepreneurship has achieved its highest-ever ranking, rising to No. 8 in the Princeton Review’s list of undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. It’s the first time the school, which has steadily advanced since debuting at No. 35 in 2019, has entered the top 10 in the annual rankings. Last year, the school ranked No. 11 on the list. The 2027 ranking places the Schulze School as No. 4 in the Midwest, first in Minnesota and third among institutions with less than 10,000 students.
The ranking reflects an approach to entrepreneurship education that extends across the university. Approximately 34% of St. Thomas students took an entrepreneurship-focused class last year, regardless of their majors. From developing new ventures to solving problems within established organizations, students across academic disciplines gain opportunities to put entrepreneurial thinking into practice.
“Entrepreneurship is about more than starting a business. It’s about recognizing opportunities, solving problems and having the confidence to turn ideas into action,” said Danielle Ailts Campeau, associate dean and Best Buy Chair of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. “We’re helping students across all majors develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will serve them throughout their careers and empower them to make a positive impact on the world.”
For example, this year’s St. Thomas Business Plan Competition attracted a record 67 submissions from students representing 41 majors, with more than half of applicants coming from outside the university’s Opus College of Business. At this year’s Fowler Business Concept Challenge, students representing 51 academic programs submitted more than 132 innovative ideas. Many of those ideas reflected the school’s emphasis on using entrepreneurship to address societal challenges – an approach championed by St. Thomas alumnus and supporter Ron Fowler ’66.
Students also have opportunities to apply entrepreneurial thinking beyond traditional start-ups. Through the recently launched Schulze Institute for Corporate Innovation, for instance, students develop skills to innovate within established organizations. And over the past year, 20 faculty members received grants to incorporate corporate innovation projects into their courses, giving students opportunities to tackle real-world business challenges.
The expansion into corporate innovation reflects the influence of the school’s naming benefactor, founder of Best Buy Richard M. Schulze, who has championed the importance of entrepreneurial thinking within established businesses.
“My experience building Best Buy taught me that innovation and entrepreneurial thinking are essential to long-term success,” Schulze said. “I’m proud to see the Schulze School receive this national recognition and, more importantly, help students develop the skills, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset they need to succeed, regardless of the careers they choose.”
Other organizations have also taken notice of the Schulze School’s rising profile. Earlier this year for example, the Schulze School was named the 2026 USASBE Model Program Award winner for Large Institutions, the highest honor presented by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The award recognizes universities that demonstrate sustained excellence in entrepreneurship education while providing students meaningful opportunities to develop entrepreneurial thinking and launch new ideas.
Students also have opportunities to test their ideas and compete alongside aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country; the school recently celebrated a decade of hosting e-Fest, one of the nation’s premier undergraduate entrepreneurship competitions. Since its inception, e-Fest has awarded more than $2 million to student start-ups from across the country, including $250,000 awarded to 25 finalist teams in 2026.
Competitions such as e-Fest and the Fowler Business Concept Challenge are considered in the Princeton Review’s rankings. Other factors include academics; student engagement; student involvement outside the classroom; and scholarships. Alumni success is also an important component of the Princeton Review’s evaluation, and the Schulze School’s entrepreneurial support continues beyond graduation, helping alumni as they launch businesses, develop new ventures and seek investment.
For Campeau, the Schulze School’s success is ultimately about preparing students for a world where innovation, adaptability and resilience are increasingly essential.
“Being entrepreneurial is so much more than venture creation,” she said. “It is recognizing and seeing opportunities where others see roadblocks.”
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