UMD Named Among Top Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Schools by Fast Company, Inc.

The University of Maryland ranks No. 22 on Fast Company and Inc.’s list of 2025 Ignition Schools released on Tuesday, recognizing top colleges making a measurable impact in entrepreneurship and innovation.

UMD, which also ranks No. 5 among U.S. public schools on the Ignition Schools list, is home to a vibrant, growing and inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Nearly one in four undergraduates—7,318 spanning 92 majors—were enrolled in undergraduate entrepreneurship courses at UMD in 2024-25; they were taught by 60 faculty members across 29 departments. Beyond traditional entrepreneurship, UMD also offers over 100 courses in innovation-related areas like creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, social value creation, business models and design thinking.

“This recognition by Fast Company and Inc. reinforces what we see every day at Maryland: Students from all backgrounds are applying their innovation skills and an entrepreneurial mindset to solve real-world problems and drive lasting societal impact far beyond campus,” said Dean Chang, the university’s chief innovation officer. “Whether they’re launching startups or social ventures, leading intrapreneurship at large organizations or government, or commercializing their research discoveries, our students, faculty and alumni are fueling a growing innovation and entrepreneurship hub that’s helping shape the future.”

The Ignition Schools list, now in its second year, honors 50 institutions worldwide for their impact on business and the economy. The publications evaluated schools based on metrics including alumni entrepreneurship rates, the strength of incubators and accelerators, research commercialization success and their role in driving economic growth.

“Schools play a critical role in the global innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Inc. and Fast Company’s publisher, Mansueto Ventures. “Now, more than ever, it is important for business media organizations to shine a spotlight on academic institutions that are powering economic growth."

This accolade comes on the heels of UMD achieving its highest-ever ranking from U.S. News & World Report, climbing one place to No. 16 among public schools in the influential 2026 "Best Colleges" guide released Sept. 23. For 10 straight years, the university has been placed among the top 10 schools for promoting student entrepreneurship in rankings provided by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. UMD also made the inaugural Ignition Schools list in 2024.