University of Houston’s Wolff Center Named No. 1 Entrepreneurship Program for Eighth Consecutive Year

C. T. Bauer College of Business Program Cements Historic Top Spot in The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine Rankings With $1.23B in Capital Raised, 3,070 Ventures Launched

HOUSTON, Nov. 10 — The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston has been named the No. 1 undergraduate entrepreneurship program for a record eighth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

The Wolff Center, housed within the C. T. Bauer College of Business, is the first undergraduate program in the ranking’s history to sustain an eight-year streak at No. 1. The recognition reflects an accelerating economic footprint: Between 2016 and 2025, Wolff Center students and graduates launched 3,070 businesses and raised more than $1.23 billion in capital.

“Once again, the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship has shown the nation our Cougar spirit of excellence,” UH President Renu Khator said. “I commend Wolff Center leadership, faculty, students, mentors and donors for this record-breaking achievement. Together, they are pushing the boundaries of success and innovation to launch the next generation of leaders.”

The Princeton Review selected the top programs based on a survey of more than 300 institutions across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. Evaluations measured academic offerings, experiential learning opportunities, faculty credentials, mentorship networks and alumni venture performance.

Key program metrics driving this year’s top ranking include:

$1.23 billion in total capital raised by Wolff Center-affiliated startups.
3,070 ventures launched by UH students and alumni.
5,183 UH students enrolled in entrepreneurship coursework during the 2025–26 academic year, illustrating the center’s broad reach beyond its small cohort.
Nearly 700 active business leaders and mentors volunteering their expertise, ranging from local founders to executives at major corporations.

Since its establishment at Bauer College in 1991, the Wolff Center has educated an elite group of undergraduate business students who create businesses through a selective 35-student cohort.

Wolff Center students aren’t just studying entrepreneurship — they’re becoming entrepreneurs. Students gain hands-on experience and one-on-one mentorship to turn their business ideas into reality.

“This continued recognition from The Princeton Review reflects our commitment to developing entrepreneurs with both the head and the heart to lead,” Bauer Dean Xianjun Geng said. “The remarkable success of our students and alumni, from launching new ventures to raising capital and creating opportunities for others, demonstrates the power of combining business knowledge with purpose. Houston’s entrepreneurial energy is part of Bauer’s DNA, and we are proud to help cultivate leaders who will shape the future of our city and beyond.”

Unlike many programs restricted solely to business majors, the Wolff Center serves as a campuswide venture hub, training students across engineering, biotechnology, creative arts and computer science in commercialization and intellectual property.

“I view the students who go through this program as seeds that we put out into the market who start business, start cultures, provide livelihoods and change lives,” said Dave Cook, executive director of the Wolff Center. “This award belongs to our students, the 700 Houston mentors who invest their time in them and the more than 5,000 students across campus taking entrepreneurship courses. Our focus isn’t on just protecting a ranking — it’s on getting better every single year.”

For complete methodology and rankings of the top schools for entrepreneurship, visit www.princetonreview.com. To learn more about the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, visit www.bauer.uh.edu/wce.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city and one of the most culturally rich regions in the country, UH enrolls nearly 49,000 students.