By skyforbes 
University of Washington Achieves Elite 2026 Ranking for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs
Written by: Charles Trillingham, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship
The University of Washington just achieved something only a few schools have ever done — ranking in the Top 5 nationally for both undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship programming. Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine released the 2026 Top Schools for Entrepreneurship and ranked UW graduate programs at #4 and undergraduate programs at #5 overall.
This marks the first time UW has ranked in the Top 5 simultaneously for national collegiate entrepreneurship programs since Princeton Review started these specific rankings 20 years ago.
The 2026 rankings also represent the peak of a seven-year stretch dating back to 2020, when graduate entrepreneurship programming ranked #13 overall and undergraduate entrepreneurship programming was ranked #28.
“An achievement of this magnitude would be impossible to do without the commitment and collaboration from across the University. Our colleagues at other schools and departments help elevate entrepreneurship and allow the Buerk Center and our partners at CoMotion to thrive,” said Amy Sallin, director of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business. “The foundation for students to turn ideas into impactful ventures has never been stronger.”
The 2026 rankings also placed UW at #1 overall in the West Region for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. A survey of undergraduate alumni — who studied entrepreneurship or took part in programming — revealed that they have launched more than 1,600 startups in the past ten years — and brought in more than a quarter billion in fundraising.
Graduate entrepreneurship programs climbed to #4 overall (and #2 in the West Region), up from #6 nationally in 2025. According to survey results, UW graduate alumni have started more than 1,750 new ventures and brought in just shy of three billion dollars in fundraising ($2.9B) in the past ten years (2016–25).
The Princeton Review/Entrepreneur Magazine ranks each college and university using information gathered from extensive surveys.
Innovation Imperative Powers Ahead Through Change
For the third consecutive year, UW has ranked in the Top 10 for “Best Entrepreneurship Programs” on both the undergraduate and graduate side by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. That momentum requires a commitment to maintain current programs but also build new ones.
This past year at UW saw the additions of the Buerk Center’s new student Incubator taught by Y Combinator alumni, CoMotion Lab’s Climate Tech Incubator, the Foster School’s commitment to Artificial Intelligence curriculum, new partnerships for the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, and the startup and technology launchpad Plug and Play opening a location in CoMotion Labs, among others.
The growth of programs like the Creative Destruction Lab (in its 5th year in the Foster School), the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WE Lead) program at the Buerk Center (third year) and the Voices of Nursing Innovation (second year) from the UW School of Nursing and its Digital Health Innovation Hub also add to the many opportunities for students to learn and develop as innovators.
This fall, the University also rededicated itself to building on its global reputation for cutting-edge research and innovation during a time of significant change.
In his inaugural address on October 15, newly appointed president Robert J. Jones said UW will develop more unconventional models to generate actionable and scalable solutions. The goal is to lead the country in areas like climate change, clean energy, advanced technologies, and human health.
“The University of Washington is a world changing institution and I know that our greatest achievements are ahead of us,” said President Jones. “No university is better prepared and equipped to succeed at these aims: expand educational access, supercharge discovery and innovation and engage deeply with the public both locally and globally.”
UW is already home to game-changing faculty and departments — like the UW Institute for Protein Design and Professor David Baker, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 — and the Global Innovation Exchange in Bellevue, which is a collaboration between the Foster School and the College of Engineering.
Adding to this foundation in recent years, UW Bothell opened a new center focused on life sciences and biotech and UW Tacoma launched its own Entrepreneurship Academy.
Student Demand Rises for Entrepreneurship Opportunities
For the third year in a row, the innovation and startup competitions hosted by the Buerk Center saw record participation from student teams. The Health Innovation Challenge (HIC) and Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC) set new all-time records — with 69 teams participating in the HIC and 43 in the EIC.
Meanwhile, the Dempsey Startup Competition solidified itself as one of the largest and best new venture competitions in the country, with a record 174 participating teams.
“We’re seeing an increase in enthusiasm and demand from students across all our competitions, as well as our weekly team events, mentoring programs, and experiential workshops,” said the Buerk Center’s Amy Sallin. “Students feel that this is a moment for them to build an idea into something more and launch their own startups.”
However, growth brings challenges of its own. To help meet this moment, the Buerk Center has launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign on Together UW. Visit the platform to learn more about how you can directly support Buerk Center entrepreneurial offerings.
Additionally, founders, fund managers, investors and those new to the Seattle innovation and startup ecosystem who are inspired to participate philanthropically or by volunteering can begin that process by contacting Buerk Center Director Amy Sallin at [email protected].
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Follow the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship on Instagram and LinkedIn
Follow UW CoMotion on Instagram and LinkedIn
Visit the Buerk Center’s website at startup.uw.edu
Visit CoMotion’s website at comotion.uw.edu
Visit the UW Innovation Imperative website