Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!

Tune in for excitement!

Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.

Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

Start your entrepreneurial journey

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.

Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.

We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.

Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.

Student opportunities

Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.

Find your path

Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

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A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

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A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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Honoring Active-Duty Military Personnel with Reduced Tuition Rates

by Jaime Griffis

Central Michigan University (CMU) announces a change in active-duty military tuition rates to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to supporting service members in the armed forces. Active-duty military personnel, their spouses, and dependents benefit from a reduced tuition rate, lowering the cost of education from $299 to $250 per credit hour. With this change, qualifying students have no out-of-pocket expenses to cover tuition.

This initiative reflects our deep appreciation for the sacrifices and dedication of service members and their families. By offering more affordable educational opportunities, pursuing higher education is now more accessible to those who serve the nation.

"At Central Michigan University, we recognize the sacrifices made by our active military personnel, and we want to make higher education more attainable and affordable for them. This reduction in tuition rates is a testament to our unwavering support for the brave service members who protect our country," says Kelly Barton, Director of Military Relations. Additionally, Barton emphasizes, “This reduction in the military tuition rate complements our recent elimination of prior learning credit costs for active-duty military personnel. CMU is doing everything possible to enhance access, reduce costs, decrease time to completion, and provide support to our fighting heroes.”

The new tuition rates are available for all active-duty military personnel, including members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, US Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves. Additionally, this change applies to online and on-campus programs, making it easier for military personnel to achieve their educational goals regardless of location or deployment status.

To take advantage of these new tuition rates, active military personnel, their spouse, or dependent should contact our Online Student Services team at 800-950-1144 or visit the website at online.cmich.edu/military for more information and assistance in enrolling in eligible programs.

We are committed to continually improving the educational opportunities and support services available to military students, their spouses, and dependents. Kelly Barton adds, “They make our lives safer and better; it’s time we return the favor.”

Learn more at: online.cmich.edu/military