Student entrepreneurship education at New Jersey Institute of Technology was recognized by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, which placed the school at No. 19 for graduate-level study and 33 for undergraduates, out of 300 universities worldwide.
The rankings in their Top Schools for Entrepreneurship 2026 category are substantial jumps from fall 2024, when NJIT ranked at 29 for graduate students and 44 for undergraduates.
A major reason behind the improvement was the first full year in operation of two ambitious organizations — the Center for Student Entrepreneurship, which is a one-stop shop for undergraduates led by research professor Kathy Naasz, and Center for Translational Research, focusing on faculty.
“They have very different missions, but they both contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Cesar Bandera, associate professor and Leir endowed chair of entrepreneurship at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management, said.
Associate Prof. Michael Ehrlich is also a vital contributor, leading students and local community members in National Science Foundation Innovation Corps programs.
Oya Tukel, dean of the Tuchman School, said the jump in rankings is the result of hard work by many.
“Our progress comes from years of building programs that connect innovation, technology, and business,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see our students and faculty turning those efforts into national distinction.”
The updated ranking is NJIT’s fifth time as No. 1 in New Jersey for undergraduates, and the third year in a row as No. 1 for graduate students. NJIT’s enrollment in both graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship saw substantial gains.
“With a focus on student success, we continue to improve entrepreneurship education at NJIT and hope our rankings will continue to rise,” Bandera said.
Management students as of this year are required to take Introduction to Entrepreneurship, which was previously an elective. Additional lecturers were brought on to teach it, as it remains an elective for students in other NJIT colleges.
Bandera also noted that major donors to the management school such as Ray Cassetta, Paul Profeta, and the school’s namesake Martin Tuchman continue to fund scholarships.
“They are setting aside more and more of their time and money for entrepreneurship,” he said. “Success breeds success.”
