Update: This article was originally posted on April 3, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
Though business school is traditionally thought of as a place where students learn to maximize shareholder results and help companies become more profitable, they are increasingly places where young professionals prepare themselves to engage in more purpose-driven careers that allow them to do good and do well.
One of the greatest advantages you can give yourself when it comes to breaking into social impact is to attend an MBA program. Designed to help career switchers and prestige seekers alike land their dream jobs, an MBA is a powerful tool you can leverage to reach the next level of career impact.
However, if you’re focused on working in social impact, not all MBA programs are created equal. Though many MBAs offer a few social impact electives, certain programs have a much stronger track record when it comes to earning their graduates the most coveted social impact jobs.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best MBAs for social impact, as well as our best tips and tricks to ensure your dream of working in this field becomes a reality.
Why attend an MBA to work with social impact?
Though MBAs are designed to include courses on numerous business-related topics ranging from leadership to innovation, the fact is that certain programs are known for their strengths in certain areas.
For example, MIT Sloan’s long track record of excellence in operations consistently attracts many of our candidates who seek careers in this field. More interested in entrepreneurship? Stanford GSB might be just the program for you.
However, young professionals are increasingly seeking more purpose-driven careers, and the demand for social impact-focused MBAs has similarly risen.
This is because ESG and corporate responsibility are becoming not just topics of interest for more and more students but central to business. This is because people are increasingly starting to question who businesses really serve and the accountability that they must take to fix many of the problems that they have caused in the past decades.
Even if you are not currently specialized in social impact, it is entirely possible for you to change your career focus. According to GMAC, “Thirty percent of mba.com registrants apply to business school to get a job outside of their country of origin. And some students even make the so-called MBA “Triple Jump” – changing industry, job function, and location all at the same time.”
That’s because MBA programs offer you a combination of specialized curriculum, outstanding faculty, unparalleled alumni networks to help you make the connections that will open doors for your career, and, importantly, the support of a dedicated career services department whose key objective is landing you a job.
Though there are many programs that offer social impact-focused specializations, the programs below are the best of the best.
The Top MBAs for Social Impact
There are multiple lists that detail the best social impact MBAs, all of which use different metrics. Some focus heavily on sustainability, others on the amount of social impact research a particular university undertakes.
As such, the following is an unranked list of MBA programs with strong track records in social impact. Since there are multiple types of social impact you may consider when planning out your future career goals, make sure to deep dive into programs you find interesting to ensure the curriculum is aligned with your needs.
Stanford GSB
Source: @stanfordgsb on Instagram
Stanford GSB’s Center for Social Innovation (CSI) has long been a pioneer in preparing MBAs to lead across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The CSI supports social entrepreneurs through programs like the Stanford Impact Founder Fellowship, which provides financial backing and mentorship for students launching ventures during or after their MBA. Stanford also offers a Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation within the MBA, as well as numerous social impact-focused courses.
Students also have access to loan forgiveness programs for careers in the social sector, as well as a suite of courses focused on sustainable systems, ethical leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. GSB’s strong ties to Silicon Valley make it especially well-suited for students interested in using tech for good, and its alumni network includes some of the most high-profile social impact founders in the world. If you’re looking to create scalable, innovation-driven change, Stanford remains one of the most inspiring ecosystems to do so.
Considering applying to Stanford GSB? Check out our essay guide here!
Yale SOM
Source: @yalesom on Instagram
Since its founding, Yale SOM has had a single mission: educating leaders for business and society. Though Yale does offer all the advantages of a traditional, top-ranked MBA program, social impact has always been part of the school’s DNA.
Yale SOM lives its mission of educating leaders for business and society through every facet of its program. The newly rebranded Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact (PSEII) integrates course offerings, research, and real-world projects that prepare students to lead with values and vision.
Students can explore social entrepreneurship, ESG, global health, and more through electives and initiatives like the Global Social Entrepreneurship course and the Impact Investing Club. SOM’s tight-knit culture and interdisciplinary opportunities with Yale’s other graduate schools—such as public health, forestry, and law—enable a collaborative, cross-sector approach to impact. If you want to pair intellectual curiosity with deep ethical commitment, Yale is a standout choice.
Applying to Yale? Check out our essay guide to help you land an interview!
Oxford Said Business School
Source: @oxfordsbs on Instagram
Oxford Saïd is a global leader in social entrepreneurship and systems change, thanks to the renowned Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. The center serves as a launching pad for purpose-driven leaders, offering students access to research, mentorship, and funding through initiatives like the Skoll Scholarship, which fully funds MBAs committed to solving social or environmental challenges.
The Oxford Impact Measurement Programme and Map the System competition provide hands-on training in systems thinking and impact assessment, encouraging students to look beyond surface-level solutions. Students also benefit from Oxford’s global network of impact investors, development agencies, and alumni changemakers. Whether you’re launching a venture or entering a mission-driven corporation, Oxford gives you the theoretical grounding and practical tools to lead with purpose.
If you’re applying to Oxford, make sure you check out this year’s essay guide.
Berkeley Haas
Source: @berkeleyhaas on Instagram
Berkeley Haas is one of the most well-established social impact destinations in the MBA world, thanks in large part to its Center for Responsible Business and its consistent leadership in sustainability rankings. The school’s strong emphasis on “leading ethically and responsibly” is backed by a rigorous academic foundation and extensive experiential opportunities.
Haas students can pursue social impact-focused labs and courses, which include courses like “Strategic and Sustainable Business Solutions” and the renowned Haas Sustainable Investment Fund—one of the largest student-led funds of its kind. Students also engage in applied learning through Social Sector Solutions, where they consult for real-world nonprofits and mission-driven businesses. Haas’s commitment to leading ethically and responsibly is also reinforced through its Defining Leadership Principles, a foundational framework that encourages students to lead with purpose, confidence, and humility.
If you’re applying to Berkeley, our essay analysis is essential to ensure your profile stands out. Check it out here!
NYU Stern
Source: @nyustern on Instagram
NYU Stern often tops the list when it comes to social impact-focused MBAs, thanks to the school’s Social Enterprise Area of Interest (similar to a major). With courses like “International Social Impact Strategies” and “Examining the Nonprofit Capital Market,” the specialization caters to a wide range of career interests within the social impact sphere.
Additionally, Stern offers students a wide range of experiential learning opportunities. Stern Signature Projects, for example, pair students with research centers and global companies to pursue independent studies on some of the most complex social issues of today. If investing is more your speed, Stern offers the NYU Impact Investing Fund, through which students gain real-world experience investing in social enterprises in the NYC area. Finally, through the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program, students get the chance to act as real board members of local nonprofits, building both governance skills and community impact.
Considering applying to NYU Stern? Check out our essay guide here!
The University of Pennsylvania Wharton
Source: @whartonschool on Instagram
Wharton may be best known for finance, but its growing investment in ESG and social innovation is hard to ignore. The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Initiative brings together cutting-edge research and programming, including the Impact Investing Research Lab and the Turner MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT), where students source and pitch early-stage impact investments.
Students can specialize through the Social and Governance Factors for Business (SOGO) major, and gain hands-on experience via the Wharton Impact Venture Associates program, where they help source and analyze social enterprises for VC partners. Wharton also supports impact-driven careers through funding for internships in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Finally, through the John M. Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Fund, students who go to work in the social impact field can receive up to $20,000 per year to help pay back any student loans. For students looking to combine business rigor with mission-driven work, Wharton offers both depth and breadth.
Applying to Wharton? Check out our essay guide to help you land an interview!
Chicago Booth
Photo courtesy of @chicagobooth on Instagram
Chicago Booth’s approach to social impact is deeply analytical, giving students the tools to drive change through rigorous business thinking. The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation serves as the hub for this work, offering students access to specialized courses, fellowships, and lab experiences focused on social innovation and impact investing.
Courses like “Social Sector Strategy and Structure” and “Impact Investing” help students understand how to scale impact sustainably. Booth’s Golub Capital Social Impact Lab courses pair MBAs with local and global nonprofits to design innovative solutions to pressing social challenges. Students can also participate in the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge, a startup competition that has launched numerous high-impact ventures. With a growing ecosystem around ESG, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership, Booth is a top pick for students who want to drive measurable, data-informed impact.
If you’re applying to Booth, make sure you check out this year’s essay guide.
MIT Sloan
Source: @mitsloan on Instagram
With a dedicated Social Impact Fellowship, social impact is ingrained in the MIT Sloan culture. Additionally, MIT Sloan’s reputation for tech and innovation extends powerfully into the world of social impact. The Sustainability Initiative and the broader Action Learning Labs give students the opportunity to partner with mission-driven organizations and develop solutions to pressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.
Courses like “Sustainable Business Lab” (S-Lab) offer hands-on projects that push students to think beyond profit and toward scalable impact. Students can also engage with the MIT Solve platform and the MIT Legatum Center, working directly with global entrepreneurs tackling climate change, inequality, and health disparities. With its problem-solving DNA and deep commitment to systems-level thinking, Sloan is a top destination for those seeking to innovate for good.
If you’re applying to MIT Sloan, our essay analysis is essential to ensure your profile stands out. Check it out here!
Duke Fuqua
Source: @dukefuqua on Instagram
Duke Fuqua is a powerhouse for students looking to make a measurable difference through business. Anchored by the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), Fuqua offers a robust suite of academic and experiential opportunities in social impact, sustainability, and inclusive innovation.
Students can pursue the CASE i3 Initiative on Impact Investing, one of the first of its kind among top MBA programs, where they work directly with firms like Acumen, Omidyar Network, and ImpactAssets. Fuqua on Board is another standout program, allowing students to serve on the boards of local nonprofits, applying classroom knowledge to real organizational challenges. Combined with courses in cross-sector leadership and a culture built on “leaders of consequence,” Fuqua equips students to lead at the intersection of business, policy, and social change.
Considering applying to Duke Fuqua? Check out our essay guide here!
Northwestern Kellogg
Source: @kelloggschool on Instagram
Kellogg has emerged as a top destination for MBAs passionate about social impact, blending its collaborative culture with deep institutional support for purpose-driven careers. The school’s Social Impact + Sustainability Pathway allows students to customize their academic experience with courses like “Social Innovation: Designing for Change,” “Impact Investing,” and “Values-Based Leadership,” equipping them with both strategic and human-centered approaches to impact.
Kellogg’s commitment to experiential learning is especially visible through the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program, where students serve as non-voting board members of nonprofits throughout the Chicago area. Students can also participate in the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge, a global competition that tasks teams with designing institutional-grade investment vehicles focused on ESG goals. For those looking to build or fund social ventures, the Kellogg Social Entrepreneurship Award offers financial support and mentorship to help graduating students launch full-time, high-impact startups.
With robust programming from the Kellogg Public-Private Interface and a community that encourages cross-sector leadership, Kellogg is ideal for students aiming to be changemakers in business, policy, and beyond.
Applying to Kellogg? Check out our essay guide to help you land an interview!
Get into a top social impact MBA
During the MBA application process, you will need to make thousands of decisions that will impact your life for decades to come.
One of the most important decisions is where you choose to apply. If you’re interested specifically in top social impact MBAs, you’ll have even tougher decisions to make.
Though you may be tempted just to work your way down the rankings, having a trusted ally who can use their deep knowledge of your profile and what different business schools offer can be the difference between loving your MBA program and wishing you’d done everything differently.
Many of our clients come to us with a general idea of what they want to do with their careers after they complete an MBA but lack specifics. Our career coaches step in at this point to help you define what you want out of your career, create concrete short-term and long-term goals to make sure your transition to social impact is as successful as possible, and identify which business schools can best help you turn these dreams into reality.
Not only does our personalized approach help 98.9% of our clients get into their top-choice schools, but we also find it helps them take greater advantage of their MBAs.
If you’d like to start putting the Ellin Lolis Advantage to work for you right from the very start, apply to work with us today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
