Michigan State vs. Ohio State: Which Is Better for Entrepreneurship?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that Ohio State places you in Columbus, a larger and more active startup market with extensive off-campus networking, while Michigan State offers a more concentrated, student-centered entrepreneurship experience through the Burgess Institute. Both universities can support a student who wants to start a business, but the surrounding ecosystem feels different. At Ohio State, proximity to Columbus can make it easier to connect with local founders, investors, internships, and growing companies during the school year.

Ohio State’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, based in the Fisher College of Business, is a major resource for entrepreneurial coursework, mentoring, pitch events, and student venture support. Its location also connects students to the Columbus innovation community, including startup organizations and venture-building opportunities beyond campus. That can be especially valuable for a student who wants to build professional relationships early or pursue a startup that needs local customers, technical talent, or outside capital.

Michigan State’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a particularly visible hub for undergraduates, including students outside the business school. It supports venture exploration, founder programming, competitions, mentorship, and student startup development. MSU also has Spartan Innovations and a broader research-commercialization network, which can be meaningful for students interested in technology, science, health, agriculture, or ideas connected to university research. East Lansing is less of a startup hub than Columbus, but that can make the campus entrepreneurship community feel more accessible and tightly connected.

For entrepreneurship alone, Ohio State has a slight edge because Columbus provides a stronger day-to-day external startup environment alongside Keenan Center programming. Michigan State is an excellent choice if you value a close campus founder community, want entrepreneurship to be accessible regardless of major, or see yourself developing an idea tied to MSU’s research strengths.