Rhode Island · Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Best colleges for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations in Rhode Island

Ranked by graduate earnings

Johnson & Wales University - Providence, University of Rhode Island and Bryant University award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in Rhode Island: 55, 16 and 10 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Rhode Island colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations and award 110 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 52.07
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
110
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$30,996
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$31,634
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$143,370
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Johnson & Wales University - Providence
Providence Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$30,9965555%$31,634$25,500

Colleges awarding the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees in Rhode Island

Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Johnson & Wales University - Providence
Providence Private not-for-profit
55$30,996
2University of Rhode Island
Kingston Public
16Not reported
3Bryant University
Smithfield Private not-for-profit
10Not reported
Show the other 2 Rhode Island colleges offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Johnson & Wales University - Online (Online)ProvidencePrivate not-for-profit17
Community College of Rhode IslandWarwickPublic12

Career outlook

What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~308,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$102,950
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What General and Operations Managers earn in Rhode Island

Jobs in Rhode Island
9,150
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$143,370
median $117,380
Best-paying metro
$136,300
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$143,370 avg · 9,150 jobs
Chief Executives
$341,100 avg · 460 jobs
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
$125,040 avg · 360 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs in Rhode Island.

Which Rhode Island colleges award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees?+

Johnson & Wales University - Providence (55 graduates a year), University of Rhode Island (16 graduates a year) and Bryant University (10 graduates a year) award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in Rhode Island, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Rhode Island colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations.

Which Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program in Rhode Island has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Johnson & Wales University - Providence tops the list at $30,996. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Rhode Island?+

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Rhode Island is $143,370 (median $117,380), across about 9,150 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program?+

The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations in other statesMassachusettsWashingtonUtahNorth CarolinaMissouriWest VirginiaDistrict of ColumbiaDelaware

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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