Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation MS-EI
Program starts: August, January
Program length: 9-16 months
STEM
Designed for new age leaders, the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MS-EI) prepares you with the entrepreneurial mindset needed to launch successful ventures in any industry or sector, inside existing organizations (intrapreneurship) or as a new startup (entrepreneurship).
In addition to learning design thinking and customer discovery methods, students build business model canvas, pricing strategy, and financial plans that are real and make money. You’ll perfect your presentation techniques, as you practice pitching and raising money from investors, or from the board of your company. Graduates are prepared to lead in a world of growing uncertainty and ambiguity.
Customize your path
Deep learning for both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs
Four optional tracks
Add a third semester to your MS-EI degree
Gain experience in launching ventures
Share your vision, team up, and make things happen
STEM-designated
Expanded career opportunities for international students
Academics
The MS-EI degree emphasizes experiential learning and places a high premium on design thinking, customer discovery, problem solving, customer empathy, prototyping, unit economics, collaboration, communication, storytelling, and continuous experimentation. This program is not an incubator, but a place where you will learn the entrepreneurial mindset that can be applied when starting your own company, or working for a large company.
You will learn that it is better to fail harder faster, rather than delay failure. Instructors will teach your frameworks and coaches will teach you apply them to business ideas and experiment. This program is delivered by leading faculty from two world-renowned colleges within Arizona State University: the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and the W. P. Carey School of Business. In addition to academic rigor, the MS-EI program offers experiential learning opportunities guided by experienced industry coaches.
MS-EI degree tracks
To meet the diversity of opportunities available with an entrepreneurship master’s — and to prepare you for a wealth of new career paths — the ASU MS-EI program features four optional tracks in complementary business disciplines. Each of our tracks makes it possible to gain applied experience over the summer, while adding just one more semester to your degree.
Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset
Discover a wealth of entrepreneurship resources and opportunities at Arizona State University. Featuring interviews with MS-EI Faculty Director Hitendra Chaturvedi, our Entrepreneurial Mindset podcast provides an inside look at your next frontier. Join us!
Experience
Join a small founding team, tackle meaningful challenges, and prepare to make a difference in companies and communities around the world. Master’s in entrepreneurship and innovation students become entrepreneurs on day one. Team up with mentors and peers, as you create, develop, and road test ventures that deliver social, environmental, and financial value.
You’ll learn by doing, through studio-based classes that mirror the real world. You’ll experience every step of the venture development process, while working on a pain point you’ve always wanted to resolve.
Studying at ASU has been a different kind of experience — the good kind. The program has challenged me to grow in ways I didn’t anticipate. From day one, I’ve seen improvements in my soft skills, my approach to problem-solving, and my ability to handle complex outcomes. ASU fosters an environment that pushes you to step out of your comfort zone and equips you with the resilience to face entrepreneurial challenges head-on.
Latifa Alneyadi, MS-EI graduate
As a W. P. Carey master’s student, you'll have access to resources, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to raise capital and test your ideas. The W. P. Carey Center for Entrepreneurship and New Business Design welcomes ASU students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the business community at large to explore ideas and collaborate on solutions that can ignite change locally and globally. Hackathons, pitch competitions, and venture challenges add depth to your ASU experience.
What can I do with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation?
Earning a master's degree in entrepreneurship and innovation from W. P. Carey prepares students with crucial skills in analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, and collaboration needed to launch and grow successful ventures. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, employer demand for business soft skills is rising as artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce. Graduates are equipped to drive change and create value for businesses of all sizes and industries, from startups to established corporations.
Potential career paths for MS-EI graduates include founder, innovation manager, management consultant, product manager, and more. With our hands-on curriculum emphasizing practical application, MS-EI students are well-prepared for success across corporate, startup, nonprofit, and consulting settings.
Ensure the smooth operation of business functions. Coordinate resources, implement policies and procedures, and manage day-to-day operations. Ensure the organization has the necessary resources for optimal performance.
Oversee the creation and direction of campaigns to generate interest in products or services. Analyze market trends to maximize profits and campaign success.
Improve organizational efficiency by assessing operations, identifying bottlenecks, and recommending productivity enhancements. Conduct regular follow-ups to ensure long-term success.
Gather and analyze data on consumer behavior, competitors, and market conditions. Use surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods to produce market insights. Forecast trends and evaluate business strategies.
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
Manage the day-to-day operations of programs for an employer. They are responsible for ensuring that programs are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.
Define sales goals, assign quotas, and evaluate new product profitability in various industries. Analyze sales data and present progress reports to leadership teams. Recruit, train, and supervise junior sales representatives.
Develop and oversee programs that improve the quality of life for various populations. Handle fundraising, program evaluation, community outreach, and advocacy. Make a difference in crucial areas such as real estate development.
W. P. Carey Career Services Center
More than 650 organizations from over 35 industries partner with W. P. Carey to recruit talent. The W. P. Carey Career Services Center will support your professional development as a student and after you graduate. Engage with a career coach early in your program, so you can capitalize on as many connections and opportunities as possible.
- Career Blueprint helps you understand who you are, tell your story, and map what’s next
- Career Management Model offers a lifelong framework for setting and achieving goals
- On-demand career resources and tools connect the dots between research and reality
- W. P. Carey recruiting events provide access to employers and opportunities
- Career coaches act as credible partners to help navigate your journey
How to apply
The MS-EI program at ASU’s Tempe campus starts in August. Take note of application deadlines, join us for an upcoming admissions event, and start your W. P. Carey journey. We look forward to meeting you!
Fall 2027
Round I (Early Decision)
Dec. 1, 2026
Round II (International priority)
Feb. 1, 2027
Round III (International final)
April 1, 2027
Round IV (Final)
July 1, 2027
All required application documents must be on file by the date of each deadline, or your application may be moved to the next round. Applications for Fall 2027 admission will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 15, 2027. Decision notifications will be made within three weeks of a completed application, and an enrollment deposit will be due following program admission.
To complete the ASU online application, you will need to provide the following information:
- Personal info: contact details, birth date, citizenship, Social Security number
- Resume: Current resume must include positions held and clearly indicate dates of employment in Month/Year format.
- Admission essay: The admission committee would like to learn more about you, your background, and your goals. Your responses to short essay questions help us evaluate your application beyond test scores and GPA requirements. Personal statements will not be accepted and will delay the review of the application. Essay prompts are available in the graduate application.
- Recommender(s) contact information: name, affiliation, and work email address of an individual who can answer questions about your personal qualities, professional success, career aspirations, and ability to perform in a graduate program
- Application fee: $70 domestic students; $115 international students
Note: Applications will not be processed until the fee is received and fees are non-refundable.
The following materials must be submitted to ASU Graduate Admissions after completing the online application.
Transcripts
If you attended ASU, you do not need to submit ASU transcripts. Otherwise, you must have one set of official transcripts from every college and university from which you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher sent to ASU Graduate College. ASU accepts official transcripts that are original academic credentials issued by the registrar of the institution attended, bearing the original raised or colored seal of the institution and the signature of your institution's registrar, academic official, or recognized international organization. We accept unofficial transcripts at the time of application. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.
You may either have the original institution send your transcripts, or you may wish to collect all of them and send them together. In either case, use the following mailing information:
U.S. Mail
Admission Services Applicant Processing
Arizona State University
PO Box 871004
Tempe, AZ 85287-1004
FedEx, DHL or UPS
Arizona State University
Admission Services Applicant Processing
1150 East University Drive Building C, Room 226
Tempe, AZ 85281
GMAT or GRE scores (optional)
Test scores are not required for admission. Depending on your academic or professional background, you may prefer to submit a test score to demonstrate your potential for success in our graduate programs.
If you choose to submit a score, these must be sent directly to the school by the assessment organizations that administer the tests. The GMAT institutional code for the W. P. Carey School is 0GZ-1R-80. The ASU Institution code for GRE is 4007 and, if needed, the department code is 000.
Note: ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at-home exam.
The application process for international students is the same as for domestic students, with the exception of submitting proof of English proficiency (for students whose native language is not English). W. P. Carey graduate minimum score requirements may be higher than ASU requirements. Please note ASU does not accept TOEFL iBT® Home Edition (if taken prior to Jan. 21, 2026), TOEFL iBT® Paper Edition, or TOEFL Essentials Exams as proof of this requirement. After admission, you will also be required to obtain a U.S. visa, which includes submitting a graduate financial guarantee.
All international transcripts must be submitted in their original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal, complete versions of the originals and must be translated by a university, government official or official translation service. You may not complete your own translation. Photocopies and notarized transcripts are not acceptable. Individuals who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree with no additional coursework may qualify, please submit your application and transcripts or contact [email protected] for further questions.
As a token of our appreciation, W. P. Carey will waive the application fee for all U.S. Military, Teach for America, Peace Corps or AmeriCorps members. Please email [email protected] prior to submitting your application to request a waiver.
Attend an event
>> Check out our complete calendar of events
Cost and aid
Paying for your degree is one of the most critical steps in your decision to go to business school. Work with us to find the right solution for you, whether it’s scholarships, graduate assistantships, or loans.
Minimum estimated total program cost
Many factors play a part in determining what your final cost looks like such as your start date, your campus, how many credits you take, and your residency status. The ASU tuition estimator shows you the minimum amount you can expect to pay each semester.
>> A one-time non-refundable enrollment deposit of $500 is also required before you register for classes.
MS-EI
Estimated tuition and fees
Resident
$30,500
Nonresident
$55,000
International
$58,000
MS-EI (all other tracks)
Estimated tuition and fees
Resident
$43,000
Nonresident
$75,000
International
$80,000
Note: All amounts shown in the Tuition and Fees Schedules or in other university publications or webpages represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, Arizona State University reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice, upon approval by the Arizona Board of Regents or as otherwise consistent with board policy, and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at ASU at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Finally, please note that fee amounts billed for any period may be adjusted at a future date.
To apply for federal financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application is available December 1 for the following academic year. ASU's school code is 001081. Learn more about tuition and financial aid at ASU, including eligibility requirements and answers to frequently asked questions.
The FAFSA can be completed at any point in your current academic year, but we recommend these deadlines for completing your applications and receiving funds in a timely manner.
ASU's Veteran Benefits and Certifications does not determine eligibility but will assist you by administering veteran's educational benefits and certifying your enrollment.
ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center is a resource for active-duty, veteran, and veteran-dependent students, providing support with education benefits, community-building events, and individualized guidance for academic and personal success.
W. P. Carey awards a limited number of scholarships based on academic performance, leadership activities, community involvement and future goals. These scholarships are extremely competitive. A short application is required for consideration and must be completed after admission has been awarded. Domestic and U.S. permanent residents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If your employer doesn’t already have a graduate academic partnership with W. P. Carey, you can be the one to help bring impactful benefits to your workplace — including personalized admission assistance, waived application fees, and expanded scholarship opportunities (ranging from $2,000 to $25,000). These benefits can be combined with existing employer-paid tuition assistance programs or supplement your education if no such benefits are currently offered.
>> To get the process started at your company, connect the school with a representative from your human resources or benefits team. We look forward to hearing from you!
You may seek full or partial funding from your employer to assist with the costs of pursuing your W. P. Carey graduate program. Check with your human resources department regarding tuition reimbursement policies. Employer-paid benefits may take one of two forms:
- Third-party sponsor billing — ASU will bill your employer directly
- Corporate reimbursement — student pays account upfront and is reimbursed by employer upon meeting their guidelines
Federal unsubsidized loans
- Lending limit: $20,500 per academic year
- Interest rate: 8.08%
- Origination fee: 1.057%
Private education loans
- Obtained from a private lender
- Interest rates, loan fees, repayment options and eligibility requirements will vary
- Review additional information regarding private student loans
- Private student loans may be an option for international students who do not qualify for federal student loans