Online MBA in Sustainability Programs
B-School Search
For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
“My advice for those focused on an MBA in sustainability is to identify a couple of industries or functions that interest you and complement your interest in sustainability. The job market has changed significantly—now, you can find sustainability roles in virtually any function and industry.”
Amanda Braun, MEM/MBA
The demand for products and services in alignment with socially-minded and green business practices is growing. As the public becomes increasingly aware of the social impact and ecological consequences of daily life, the demand for commerce that is not only financially lucrative but also enriching for society and protective of the environment increases as well.
When tools such as the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) and the Dow-Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) are just a click away, businesses become accountable to socially- and environmentally-minded consumers looking to buy from and invest in companies with integrity.
Sustainable organizational practices are needed to support businesses in creating and maintaining a “triple bottom line” with regards to people, planet, and profit. Professionals with an MBA in sustainability can provide leadership to organizations looking to maximize revenues from their products and services without compromising communities or the earth.
Sustainable leaders trained in business administration understand the components of a successful enterprise and how they can be managed with dignity for human capital, responsibility towards the environment, and accountability to stakeholders and communities.
MBA programs that offer a specialization in sustainability prepare graduates to lead efforts in maximizing efficiency and profit while maintaining high standards of integrity in matters of energy, ecological impact, and resource management. MBA professionals are trained in how to reduce an organization’s carbon footprint, manage human resources equitably, and make meaningful contributions to domestic and international communities.
Professionals with an MBA in sustainability can become entrepreneurs in green business ventures or work as managers and consultants in both the private and public sectors, guiding established organizations with compliance efforts. U.S. laws hold businesses to set standards regarding their impact on the environment and use of natural resources, their treatment of employees, and their effect on local communities. International businesses and multinational corporations are subject to agreements made between nations in treaties and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
MBA programs in sustainability are available completely online, enabling working professionals to complete the degree without relocating. This article highlights notable institutions offering an online MBA in sustainability and three accomplished faculty members within them.
| Featured Sustainability & Environmental Management Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online MBA In Sustainability And Environmental Compliance | View Full Profile |
|
sponsored
×
For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details. |
||
Meet the Expert: Amanda Braun, MEM/MBA
Amanda Braun is the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) manager at KSL Capital Partners. She holds a master of environmental management (MEM) from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
At KSL Capital Partners, Braun leads initiatives integrating sustainability practices into investment strategies, ensuring that environmental, social, and governance considerations are embedded in the firm’s operations and portfolio management. Her dual expertise in environmental science and business management uniquely positions her to drive impactful ESG programs and foster sustainable growth within the organization.
BSchools.org: How has graduating with an MBA in sustainability enhanced your career?
Currently, I work as an ESG manager at a private equity firm and despite a junior position, I spearhead global strategy. My MBA in sustainability has enabled me to connect across all functions within the firm effectively.
I earned dual degrees from Duke University: a master’s in environmental management (MEM) and a master of business administration (MBA). These two degrees allow me to bring a financial perspective to environmental and climate issues and address social concerns, though the latter often draws more on my undergraduate degree in sociology. The combination of a finance education and an environmental education has honed my ability to translate and communicate complex environmental topics to senior executives.
BSchools.org: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective MBA in sustainability student?
My advice for those focused on an MBA in sustainability is to identify a couple of industries or functions that interest you and complement your interest in sustainability. The job market has changed significantly—now, you can find sustainability roles in virtually any function and industry. Without a focused lens, it can feel overwhelming. Your interests might evolve over the course of your MBA, and that’s normal.
However, starting with a clear vision and honing the skill to articulate how sustainability drives value within a particular industry or function is essential. Clearly communicating how sustainability will impact an industry or function can significantly enhance your value to potential employers, as companies are looking for candidates who understand how they can drive value through sustainability.
Featured Online MBA in Sustainability Programs
UNC’s online MBA focuses on strategic leadership and foundational skills while allowing students to specialize in one of eight concentrations. The online MBA in sustainable enterprise prepares professionals to maintain the “triple bottom line” in business, balancing between profit, society, and the environment. This track focuses on the principles of sustainable enterprise and the global context of business.
The program consists of 66 credits delivered in a multimedia format by a diverse group of distinguished professors with a wide variety of professional and academic experience. Students have 24/7 lifelong access to course materials from a mobile app compatible with any mobile device. No GMAT/GRE scores are required from candidates with seven or more years of full-time professional experience. Waivers may be granted to qualified applicants with less than seven years of experience, but whose academic and professional work clearly demonstrate the quantitative and analytical skills necessary for success in the program.
| Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Time to Completion: 18 to 36 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
SNHU’s MBA in sustainability and environmental compliance prepares students to address present and future environmental issues in business. This online MBA in green business practices concentrates on the challenges related to energy and ecology and their effect on society and the environment. The specialization in sustainability offers coursework in environmental issues, energy and society, and environment compliance/sustainability.
Students learn the tools for working with large and small businesses, as well as about renewable energy and sustainability trade associations, ecological advocacy organizations, and municipal and ecological regulatory agencies. Students learn at their own pace in a flexible online format. GMAT/GRE test scores are not required for admission to this program.
| Location: Manchester, New Hampshire |
| Time to Completion: Minimum 15 months |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
This online MBA program’s experiential nature focuses on applying academic theory to professional, real-world contexts. This 50-credit program consists of 13 core courses and five electives in sustainability. Core classes range from accounting and finance to management, marketing, and ethics. Courses in the sustainability concentration include economics, leadership, the business of the environment, and the supply chain.
The online course content is interactive and incorporates multimedia learning tools. Domestic and international residency course options are available. This program values professional experience highly, and GRE/GMAT scores are not required for admission.
| Location: Boston, Massachusetts |
| Time to Completion: 24 months |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
The University of Colorado–Denver’s online MBA in managing for sustainability provides students with skills to apply sustainable management practices to all facets of business. The program is geared toward individuals aspiring to enter the field of sustainability as consultants or entrepreneurs or those seeking to understand how sustainability issues relate to their current role and business focus.
Students in this specialization of the professional MBA program take 30 credits of MBA core courses, three credits in international business, and 12 creditss in sustainability. Sustainable management topics include corporate social responsibility, green marketing strategy, social entrepreneurship, and business ethics.
The 48-credit program can be taken completely online and may be combined with internships and field projects to gain hands-on experience applying learning to authentic business contexts. Dual degree options are available to combine MBA and MS degrees in fields such as medicine, architecture, urban planning, and banking. GMAT is required for admission; however, work experience is not.
| Location: Denver, Colorado |
| Time to Completion: 11 months for the accelerated on-campus program; 16 months to five years for part-time online/hybrid programs |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
UHCL offers an accelerated online MBA in an eight-week format ideal for working professionals in addition to its hybrid and traditional program offerings. In the sustainability concentration, students seeking to enhance or begin careers in environmental compliance or consultancy examine sustainable economies from the point of view of the diverse stakeholders involved.
Coursework focuses on the legal, economic, and strategic issues vital to conducting environmentally friendly business that offers social and environmental benefits and economic gain. Please note that GRE/GMAT testing is required only for applicants with less than a 3.0 on the last 60 hours of their undergraduate coursework.
| Location: Houston, Texas |
| Time to Completion: 14 months (accelerated) |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Saint Mary’s accelerated online MBA program offers a sustainability and environmental management emphasis with coursework focused on eco-friendly business practices.
Topics include corporate social responsibility, sustainable marketing and law, and ethics in environmental management. Students can further tailor their learning through customizing the 25 lecture series toward sustainability and applying principles of sustainable business to the capstone project.
Saint Mary’s 30-credit online MBA program is geared toward students who are committed to ethics and integrity in business as it is founded upon the Lasallian principles of respect, equality, and inclusion. The accelerated pace is ideal for experienced professionals who want to quickly obtain the skills to further their careers. All online MBA students at Saint Mary’s receive an iPad loaded with mobile learning apps to access coursework, materials, and learning tools anytime, anywhere.
| Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Time to Completion: 18 months or less |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission |
Designed for the working professional, the online MBA at Wilmington University emphasizes the complex relationships successful organizations navigate in diverse domestic settings and the international community. Students work at their own pace through the 36-credit program in an accelerated seven-week course format.
The program requires 21 credits of MBA common core classes and 15 credits in a chosen specialization. Students in the environmental sustainability concentration focus on competencies related to ecological sustainability and environmental ethics. Courses include project management with sustainable green technologies, global marketing strategy, and organizational behavior and ethical leadership. No GMAT/GRE is required for admission.
| Location: New Castle, Delaware |
| Time to Completion: About two years; program must be completed in four years |
| Accreditation: International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) |
Sustainability MBA Career Outlook & Salary
The career outlook for sustainability professionals from 2022 to 2032 is exceptionally bright, bolstered by a growing global emphasis on environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), management occupations overall are projected to add 1.1 million jobs from 2022 to 2032, paying median annual wages of $116,880 in May 2023.
At the granular level, public relations and fundraising managers are projected to grow 6 percent, twice the rate of growth as the national average, from 2022 to 2032. An estimated 6,000 new jobs will be needed in this decade, paying median annual wages of $119,200, with the bottom percentile earning less than $68,800 and the top percentile earning $212,730.
