Presidio Graduate School – MBA in Sustainable Management
Sustainability: 5/5
Social impact: 4.5/5
Survey respondents: 91
Full-time MBA students: 225
Reasons to attend: One school that stood out in the survey is Presidio. It had the highest number of respondents in the survey, yet it garnered a near perfect score across all measures: course content (98%), faculty emphasis (98%), student commitment (99%), and extracurriculars (92%). Students seem to enjoy Presidio’s holistic offerings, including interactive and rigorous classes, experiential learning in which students work on real-world projects with companies and organizations, and a Peer Advisor Program in which new students are connected with current students and alumni. It also offers the nation’s first MPA in Sustainable Management.
Seton Hall University – The Stillman School of Business
Sustainability: 4.5/5
Social impact: 4.5/5
Survey respondents: 25
Full-time MBA students: 30
Reasons to attend: Similar to Presidio, Seton Hall was highly rated among students across the four measures: course content (100%), faculty emphasis (96%), student commitment (96%), and extracurriculars (100%). The difference is that it is a smaller school. But students enjoy the large offerings of student clubs, as well as a great professor to student ratio of 1 to 14. The school also provides English as Second Language courses and resources to help international students hone their English skills.
Simmons College – Simmons School of Management
Sustainability: 4/5
Social impact: 4.5/5
Survey respondents: 26
Full-time MBA students: 53
Reasons to attend: While 85% or more students were satisfied with course content, faculty emphasis, and student commitment, and over 90% of students were satisfied with extracurriculars, this program is specifically tailored for women who wish to develop their leadership capacity. For this reason, the Simmons MBA is a solid option for those seeking a gendered lens curriculum that develops women’s leadership abilities for social impact.
University of California, Santa Barbara – Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
Sustainability: 5/5
Social impact: 4/5
Survey respondents: 48
Full-time MBA students: 160
Reasons to attend: Among several University of California campuses, Santa Barbara stood out with a stronger student satisfaction: course content (96%), faculty emphasis (85%), student commitment (94%), and extracurriculars (90%). The school is touted as the ideal place for someone seeking to combine environmental education, business and entrepreneurial training, and real-world experience.
University of Colorado, Boulder – Leeds School of Business
Sustainability: 4.5/5
Social impact: 4.5/5
Survey respondents: 45
Full-time MBA students: 210
Reasons to attend: Despite a lower score on faculty emphasis (73%), the Leeds School of Business was rated well in course content (87%), student commitment (98%), and extracurriculars (93%). Outside the classroom, students are treated to scenic views of Flatirons as well as opportunities to work on real-world projects. The University of Colorado is also one of only ten Ashoka Changemaker Campuses.
University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business
Sustainability: 4.5/5
Social impact: 4.5/5
Survey respondents: 23
Full-time MBA students: 326
Reasons to attend: Over 90% of students were satisfied with course content, faculty emphasis, and extracurriculars in this program. Satisfaction with student commitment wasn’t rated far behind at 87%. Central to the Mendoza College of Business is the mantra “Ask more of business.” The MBA program also has an award-winning course – Business on the Frontlines – that provides students with the opportunity to visit post-conflict countries to examine the role of business in the rebuilding process. Beyond the GMAT and GPA, prospective students are to complete a “Personal Characteristics Inventory” survey to determine each individual’s unique strength.
University of Oregon – Lundquist College of Business
Sustainability: 4.5/5
Social impact: 4/5
Survey respondents: 35
Full-time MBA students: 108
Reasons to attend: University of Oregon received solid ratings from students: 86% were satisfied with course content and extracurriculars, and over 90% were satisfied with faculty emphasis and student commitment. The business school has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and a strong emphasis on innovation. This is reflected in their annual Portland Green Business Initiative Symposium where executives and thought leaders on sustainability are invited to give presentations.
Yale University – Yale School of Management
Sustainability: 4.5/5
Social impact: 5/5
Survey respondents: 58
Full-time MBA students: 475
Reasons to attend: Although students’ satisfaction with faculty emphasis was 78%, Yale fared well in course content (84%) and particularly in student commitment (97%) and extracurriculars (98%). A unique course in the program is the Global Social Enterprise elective which gives students the opportunity to visit social enterprises in developing countries. The Yale School of Management also runs research centres that focus on the intersection of business, social impact, and environmental sustainability.
Notable schools
Evidently, there were some notable institutions not included on the above list. For example, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where Professor Dees is a faculty member, didn’t rank well with students. In particular, only 58% of students were satisfied with the course content, and 42% of them were satisfied with faculty emphasis.
The same can be said for Harvard Business School, Hult International Business School, IE Business School, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where roughly only half of the students said they were satisfied.
On the other hand, Duke, Harvard, and Northwestern students rated extracurriculars favourably, suggesting that the schools have good offerings outside the classroom nonetheless.
Final remarks
Although the survey provided a comprehensive overview of students’ opinions of the programs, one thing that was left out from the survey is tuition cost, which can total over $100,000 including living expenses for an MBA, giving students more to think about.
Despite being largely U.S.-focused, there were some schools included in the report from Canada, Spain, and the UK. This is because many Net Impact Chapters are in the U.S., and only programs with 20 or more survey respondents were included.
Net Impact will be collecting submissions beginning this month for their 2013 Business as Unusual guide. However, to be included in the guide, programs will need to have a Net Impact Chapter.
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