Center For Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (EL) program at Mars Hill University offers a dynamic and innovative experience that will help students develop the mindset, skills, and strategies needed to think like an entrepreneur. Students can apply those skills across any industry at any scale and are highly sought after by employers. With experiential learning at the core of the program design, students will get extensive exposure to business partners and work real world problems. The program challenges students to think creatively, take calculated risks, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will expand their academic and professional journey.

Ways to Graduate with Entreprenurial Leadership 

Students can choose between a major, minor, or concentration in Entrepreneurial Leadership. Whether interested in starting a business, working for a startup, or simply developing an entrepreneurial mindset that will help drive success in any career, the Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum is the perfect opportunity to supplement any major.

View course requirements

Student Scholarship Program

Scholarships are available for students interested in Entrepreneurial Leadership and accepted to MHU. Scholarships are $3,000/year. There is no GPA requirement, but there is a short application and interview. Recipients are selected based on motivation, leadership, and other factors. Scholarships are made possible thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Apply Now

Small Business Incubator

The Small Business Incubator program is designed to provide Mars Hill University students with a supportive environment to explore entrepreneurship. The program offers resources and mentorship to aspiring business owners. One of the core principles guiding the initiative is to give students a safe space to fail and learn from their experiences. Through the program, students can test their ideas without the fear of risking their own capital. With the opportunity to access microgrants of $500-2,000, students can innovate and experiment with confidence, knowing that they have the support of our external partners and the expertise of our team.

Are you an MHU student interested in Small Business Incubator? Apply HERE.

Business Partners in Education

Experiential learning is a key component of the program, which means partnerships with area businesses are critical to success. The program has a diverse group of business partners that will engage with students throughout the entirety of the program helping students in the areas of workforce readiness, critical thinking, personal development, business acumen, and leadership/interpersonal skills. Continuous and extensive engagement with partners will allow students to develop relationships, grow networks, have mentors, leverage internships, and potentially secure permanent employment upon graduation.

Some of our local business partners include: