AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University has climbed five spots to rank in the top 10 of The Princeton Review's 20th annual ranking of undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies for the first time in school history. Iowa State's No. 9 ranking is a testament to the growth of entrepreneurial courses, programs and activities across campus.
ISU remains the top-ranked university in Iowa and No. 4 in the Midwest in the 2026 rankings, which were announced today by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur.
Quick look
Iowa State is ranked No. 9 in The Princeton Review's 20th annual rankings of undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies, climbing five spots from last year and marking the first time in school history that ISU has been ranked in the top 10. ISU remains the top-ranked university in Iowa and No. 4 in the Midwest.
"Iowa State University's rise to No. 9 in the ranking affirms our national leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation. With world-class programs, facilities and faculty, Iowa State is the clear choice for students who want to learn how to turn their big ideas into successful businesses," said Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen.
The rankings are based on a survey of administrators at nearly 300 schools in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe offering entrepreneurship studies. The rankings consider more than 40 data points from the survey findings, including information about the school's academic offerings, faculty credentials, experiential learning and mentorship opportunities, alumni entrepreneurship ventures and other subjects.
"Entrepreneurship has been a university-wide focus at Iowa State for more than 25 years, and this ranking reflects the extensive programs and courses that Iowa State offers," said Judi Eyles, director of the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. "We're proud to foster an innovative mindset in our students, faculty and staff, and to celebrate their entrepreneurial achievements."
Iowa State was also recently named one of the Top 50 schools on Fast Company and Inc.'s 2025 Ignition Schools List of Educational Institutions Making an Impact on Business and Society, and ranked among the top 15 public schools for entrepreneurship in the latest U.S. News Best Colleges report.
Entrepreneurship is for everyone at Iowa State
Iowa State offers a major and cross-disciplinary minor in entrepreneurship, and students also have access to the Start Something Network, which provides support to start a business, market a new product or collaborate with other students and faculty on an innovative solution. The university's Student Innovation Center is a hands-on hub for students to design, build and test new ideas.
ISU's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship offers a variety of programs, including the CyBIZ Lab student consulting program, which employs 25-35 students per semester to tackle business and organizational projects, and the CYstarters summer accelerator, an 11-week program that provides resources and accountability for students with business ideas. That's where students like Iowa State senior Madison Green are encouraged to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.
Earlier this year, Green launched Perfect Motion, a business offering online and softball pitching lessons, with support from programs offered through Iowa State's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. These resources, Green said, helped her conduct market research, network with mentors and peers, build a business plan and, yes, learn how to deliver a winning business pitch.
The Sioux City native, who also participated in Cohort 10 of the CYstarters program this past summer, now has approximately 50 clients on her roster, along with plans to expand her business, so when she graduates with degrees in entrepreneurship and supply chain management in spring 2026, Green will be turning her tassel as a small business owner, too.
"When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I wasn't sure what my next step should be," Green said. "I decided to come to Iowa State after learning about the amazing support and development opportunities the university offers for entrepreneurs. And I'm so glad I did. The resources at Iowa State have made a big impact on my education as an entrepreneur."
A strong foundation
Iowa State graduates also recognize the role Iowa State's entrepreneurial spirit has played in their success.
Lana Fox earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from Iowa State in 2014 and is now CEO and co-founder of ClinicNote, a Des Moines-based company that provides medical record software for university and private practice therapy clinics. Founded in 2016, ClinicNote has clients in 43 states and serves more than 200 clinics.
Fox said her experience at Iowa State provided her with a strong foundation for an entrepreneurial future she didn't necessarily envision at the time.
"Iowa State prepared me to say yes to opportunities, which has been an important mindset in my career," said Fox, who also met her husband and business partner when they were students at ISU. "My foundation as an entrepreneur and business owner is the strong education I received, along with the encouragement and support the university gives its students.
"There is a true culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Iowa State, and when you graduate, you take that with you."
