FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Entrepreneur Magazine Ranks SDSU In Top Group of Universities for Entrepreneurs

Surveyed Alumni, Peer Institutions Place SDSU Program in Top 10 at Regional Universities

SAN DIEGO, Friday, March 21, 2003 - San Diego State University is among the top U.S. colleges and universities for entrepreneurs, according to a new list of premier schools hitting newsstands Tuesday in the April 2003 issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

The magazine's inaugural list researched 700 entrepreneurship programs and divided them into two university categories - national and regional. SDSU is listed as one of 13 "first tier" programs at regional universities nationwide. SDSU's program is also ranked seventh by surveyed alumni, and eighth by surveyed peer institutions. SDSU and the University of Oregon were the only two regional universities to make the Top 10 by both of those groups

"This is another significant distinction for a program that's already well-recognized as a leader in entrepreneurial education," said Gail Naughton, dean of SDSU's College of Business. Naughton is a biotech entrepreneur who served on the advisory board of the SDSU Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC) before she became dean in August 2002. "The program owes its success to the hard work of our faculty, staff and students, and the business professionals in the San Diego community who serve as valuable advisers for our program."

The other regional universities to make Entrepreneur's "first tier" are Ball State University, Brigham Young University, University of Cincinnati, University of Florida, Florida State University at Tallahassee, Fresno State University, Georgia State University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Louisville, University of Oregon, University of Portland (Ore.), and St. Louis University.

"The quality of our program is reflected in the success of our students," said Sanford Ehrlich, the QUALCOMM Executive Director of SDSU's Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC). "They shine at competitions around the country and in the start-up businesses they create."

SDSU's graduate-level entrepreneurship program integrates the latest in scholastic knowledge with real world perspective and hands-on experience. Other distinctions it has earned include a Top 20 ranking for best graduate programs for entrepreneurs in April 2002 by U.S. News & World Report, and a Top 10 ranking on SUCCESS magazine's list of "Best Schools for Entrepreneurs" in 2001.

In addition, the EMC has gained a national reputation through its Venture Challenge student business plan competition. The 14th annual event will be held on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28 at the San Diego Mission Valley Hilton. Approximately 20 teams of MBA students from around the nation and several other countries will present their business plans to panels of judges. The team with the best entrepreneurial idea and most convincing presentation will receive the $15,000 grand prize of venture capital funding.

Ehrlich added that the EMC recently hosted a National Consortium for Life Sciences Entrepreneurship conference with faculty from several major U.S. universities as well as industry representatives. The group discussed investment and growth strategies for life science companies, technology transfer and commercialization, and examples of innovative programs. The conference was funded by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and included visits to several local companies.

The study was conducted from September to December 2002 by TechKnowledge Point Corp. of Santa Barbara, Calif. More than 30 criteria were used in the study, including course offerings, teaching and research faculty, business-community outreaches, research centers and institutes, degrees and certificates offered, and faculty and alumni evaluations. In addition, almost 300 colleges and universities responded to surveys designed to allow program directors, faculty and alumni to rank their own entrepreneurship programs against the competition. These results appear, along with the top 100 list, in Entrepreneur's April issue, available on newsstands Tuesday, March 25.

Entrepreneur magazine's article also breaks down the various types of entrepreneurship programs and advises students how to choose one that meets their needs.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14. SDSU's more than 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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