The college placed 18th in the national ranking this fall, two spots higher than its placement at 20th last fall.

“We’re proud of our talented, experienced entrepreneurship director, Van Clouse, and his outstanding faculty, said business Dean Carolyn Callahan. “They are providing exceptional academic leadership and offering innovative opportunities that link our students to the real business world.”

Besides offering MBA and doctoral degrees in entrepreneurship, the college’s administrators and faculty members work closely with graduate students to prepare them for local, state, regional and national business plan competitions.

Last June, the college opened a new wing on its west side providing additional space for its Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship. In October, it inducted six alumni into a new Entrepreneurship Circle of Fame to recognize the accomplishments of its most innovative graduates.

The Princeton Review, working with Entrepreneur magazine, has issued a list of the nation’s Top 50 entrepreneurship programs each year since 2006. Its ranking of 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs is based on information gathered through surveys sent to more than 2,000 schools.

The list takes into account the percentage of faculty, students and alumni actively involved in entrepreneurship at each school. It also factors in mentoring programs, funding for entrepreneurial studies and projects, and commitment to entrepreneurship in and out of the classroom.