Best Online MBAs in Sustainability

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Find top-ranked online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Sustainability degree programs here. Students wanting to advance to leadership roles in consulting, marketing, finance, government, nonprofit, and more can find reputable online MBA in Sustainability programs.

Top 10 Online MBA in Sustainability Degrees

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  1. Manhattan College
  2. University of Maine
  3. Southern New Hampshire University
  4. Wilmington University
  5. Unity Environmental University
  6. Concordia University Wisconsin
  7. Prescott College
  8. Maharishi International University
  9. Concordia University Ann Arbor
  10. Antioch University
  1. Pennsylvania State University
  2. University of Maine
  3. Antioch University
  4. Manhattan College
  5. Maharishi International University
  6. Southern New Hampshire University
  7. Prescott College
  8. Concordia University Wisconsin
  9. Wilmington University
  10. Concordia University Ann Arbor
  1. Prescott College 98%
  2. Southern New Hampshire University 96%
  3. Unity Environmental University 94%
  4. University of Maine 94%
  5. Maharishi International University 93%
  6. Manhattan College 82%
  7. Concordia University Ann Arbor 70%
  8. Concordia University Wisconsin 70%
  1. Unity Environmental University 36 to 1
  2. Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
  3. University of Maine 14 to 1
  4. Maharishi International University 13 to 1
  5. Wilmington University 12 to 1
  6. Manhattan College 11 to 1
  7. Concordia University Wisconsin 11 to 1
  8. Concordia University Ann Arbor 11 to 1
  9. Prescott College 9 to 1
  10. Antioch University 2 to 1
  1. Manhattan College $48,658
  2. Prescott College $35,450
  3. Concordia University Wisconsin $33,062
  4. Concordia University Ann Arbor $32,982
  5. Maharishi International University $16,530
  6. Antioch University $16,050
  7. Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
  8. Unity Environmental University $12,640
  9. Wilmington University $12,030
  10. University of Maine $11,640
  1. Maharishi International University $29,000
  2. Manhattan College $21,420
  3. Antioch University $20,976
  4. Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
  5. Prescott College $16,824
  6. Concordia University Ann Arbor $14,166
  7. Concordia University Wisconsin $12,042
  8. Unity Environmental University $9,750
  9. University of Maine $9,738
  10. Wilmington University $9,216
  1. Pennsylvania State University
  2. Antioch University
  3. Concordia University Ann Arbor
  4. Maharishi International University
  5. Prescott College
  6. Concordia University Wisconsin
  7. Unity Environmental University
  8. Wilmington University
  9. Southern New Hampshire University
  10. University of Maine
  1. Unity Environmental University
  2. Concordia University Ann Arbor
  3. Wilmington University
  4. Concordia University Wisconsin
  5. Prescott College
  6. Southern New Hampshire University
  7. Maharishi International University
  8. Manhattan College
  9. Antioch University
  10. University of Maine
  1. Concordia University Wisconsin 70%
  2. Concordia University Ann Arbor 70%
  3. Manhattan College 82%
  4. Maharishi International University 93%
  5. University of Maine 94%
  6. Unity Environmental University 94%
  7. Southern New Hampshire University 96%
  8. Prescott College 98%
  1. Antioch University 2 to 1
  2. Prescott College 9 to 1
  3. Manhattan College 11 to 1
  4. Concordia University Wisconsin 11 to 1
  5. Concordia University Ann Arbor 11 to 1
  6. Wilmington University 12 to 1
  7. Maharishi International University 13 to 1
  8. University of Maine 14 to 1
  9. Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
  10. Unity Environmental University 36 to 1
  1. University of Maine $11,640
  2. Wilmington University $12,030
  3. Unity Environmental University $12,640
  4. Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
  5. Antioch University $16,050
  6. Maharishi International University $16,530
  7. Concordia University Ann Arbor $32,982
  8. Concordia University Wisconsin $33,062
  9. Prescott College $35,450
  10. Manhattan College $48,658
  1. Wilmington University $9,216
  2. University of Maine $9,738
  3. Unity Environmental University $9,750
  4. Concordia University Wisconsin $12,042
  5. Concordia University Ann Arbor $14,166
  6. Prescott College $16,824
  7. Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
  8. Antioch University $20,976
  9. Manhattan College $21,420
  10. Maharishi International University $29,000

Key Takeaways:

  • While it is generally required by many graduate schools, there are some universities that no longer require the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The number of high-quality online MBA programs that no longer need the GMAT is growing.

  • An MBA in sustainability builds your awareness of environmental issues. Whether you are working for a tech or finance firm, businesses are becoming more sustainable these days. Earning your MBA in sustainability and joining projects will broaden your knowledge of complex environmental issues.

  • Having a career in sustainability is a perfect way to aid in changing the world for the better. Today, the demand for sustainability careers is growing, including water engineers, scientists, green building professionals, and environmental engineers.

Featured Programs

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

The master’s degree program in sustainability is your gateway toward advancing your career in business and increasing your earning potential. One of the most common misconceptions about MBAs in sustainability is that everything is all about advocating and practicing “green” policies in businesses.

MBAs in sustainability do prepare graduates for various roles that promote environmentally sound policies, however, there is so much more to understand about sustainability in business.

A sustainability MBA is a business degree focused on social and ecological awareness, progressive thinking, and sustainable leadership. Some programs in the MBA degree focus on leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and other components like green technology.

In the study of sustainability in business, three elements relate to the different definitions of the subject:

  • A sustainable business has a sustainable relationship with natural resources and the planet through environmentally friendly practices
  • A sustainable business practices a sustainable relationship with its stakeholders through corporate social responsibility
  • A sustainable business is sustainable in itself through continuity and disaster preparedness

Students enrolled in an MBA in sustainability concentration will focus on topics that blend ideas of the ‘green movement’, classic economics, and social justice movements.

Common MBA Sustainability Concentration Courses

  • Managing Sustainable Organizations
  • Climate change, law, policy, and opportunity
  • Environmental Management and Strategy
  • Sustainability Systems
  • Risk Management
  • Sustainable Investing
  • The Triple Bottom Line
  • Sustainable Marketing

Different Types of Online MBAs in Sustainability

Almost all MBA concentrations can be pursued online or in person because business schools recognize that student’s have unique needs.

In MBA programs, the majority of the candidates are either full-time workers, non-traditional students, or those with other obligations. This is why most MBA programs, like sustainability MBAs, are offered fully online.

Online MBA programs generally come in different types. Those who are seeking to enroll in an online MBA in sustainability degree program should know these types.

  • Synchronous Online Course Delivery
  • Asynchronous Course Delivery
  • Fully Online Programs
  • Hybrid Online Programs

How an MBA Sustainability Boosts your Employability

The skills learned while earning an MBA in sustainabilty will help to boost your employability as you prepare to enter the job market. Students develop practical skills in areas such as negotiations, risk management, critical analysis, leadership, and the art of persuasion.

Usual Career Paths for the Online MBA in Sustainability

Sustainability Consultants: These are experts in eco-friendly business practices and environmental policies. They provide advice to businesses on how to minimize their environmental footprints, like making manufacturing processes more efficient.

Sustainability Management: This career path applies sustainable practices to agriculture, businesses, communities, and facilities with the ultimate goal of minimizing energy use and emissions, pushing growth, and making sure there is the availability of resources for future generations.

Sustainability Officer: Typically responsible for giving an evaluation of a business’ personnel, profits, ecological outlook, and other factors affecting the company’s performance. The sustainability officer is also in charge of a company’s environmental programs.

CSR Manager: The corporate social responsibility manager ensures that a business brings a positive impact to its community by raising awareness of the company’s commitment to sustainable social responsibility.

A CSR Manager acts as an organization’s ‘conscience’, creating the environmentally-friendly, ethical, and community-minded side of a business.

ESG Analyst: The environmental, social, and governance analyst is responsible for performing due diligence before giving specific financial advice. He/she carefully studies different non-financial aspects of an investment opportunity to provide a more rounded conclusion to accompany or stakeholder.

Frequently Asked Questions About MBA in Sustainability Degrees

With more and more industries moving toward environmentally friendly products and technologies, earning a master’s in sustainability could advance your career in the fast-growing renewable energy and green technology sectors.

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Go to Online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer responsive test designed to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and English reading skills used by graduate management programs, such as MBA programs, to assist with admissions selections.

The GMAT is still required by many graduate schools of all shapes and sizes – elite research universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, online colleges, etc. There’s no real common denominator for which types of schools require the GMAT, or don’t.

If you are considering a graduate business school that requires the GMAT, then you certainly want to do well on the exam. Even if schools you’re considering don’t require it, you may want to take the test because a high score could still help your application, and because there may be another college that suddenly interests you, and it might require successful completion of the GMAT.

If you’re going to take the test, at minimum you’ll want to study with solid guidance provided by quality resources. People have many different opinions about which GMAT test prep resources are the best, therefore we recommend that you start looking at and comparing the best-selling GMAT test guides.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are aspiring to be admitted into an elite university’s program, you may want to work with a graduate or business school admissions expert. An admissions consultant can give you the most customized information about your prospects and many will work with you on whatever specific need you might have – test prep, applications, personal essays, and even help with finding meaningful internships.

There is a growing number of high quality MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT. Furthermore, there are a lot of highly reputable colleges and universities offering online MBA programs that do not require the GMAT. If standardized testing simply isn’t a strength of yours, you may want to move your search to focus specifically on online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements.

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This graduate degree will immerse you in current environmental topics, such as sustainable construction, transportation and the environment, renewable energy engineering, energy policies, and sustainable product design. Many programs also have field-based learning, where students will gain hands-on knowledge related to their specialty.

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Credit hours can vary for this graduate degree, ranging from 27 to 57. Programs are available both online and on campus. Many programs also have field-based learning, where students will gain hands-on knowledge related to their specialty.

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After completing the program, graduates will be equipped to hold managerial and supervisory positions in the consulting, marketing, finance, engineering, government, nonprofit, and technology fields.

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Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in earth sciences.

Best Online Master's in Green Technologies Degree Programs
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Online MBAs in Sustainability

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1200/26

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at University of Maine

    Cost of Degree: $12,606
    Expenses: $15,966
    Starting Salary: $35,940
    Salary after 4 years: $46,991
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainability

    Concentrations

    • Sustainability
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    224K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Southern New Hampshire University

    Cost of Degree: $16,450
    Expenses: $24,000
    Starting Salary: $30,246
    Salary after 4 years: $54,073
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    Sustainability MBA

    Concentrations

    • Sustainability And Environmental Compliance
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  3. #4

    Wilmington University

    New Castle , DE
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Graduation

    20%

    Student body

    19K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Wilmington University

    Cost of Degree: $12,330
    Starting Salary: $28,077
    Salary after 4 years: $50,195

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainability

    Concentrations

    • Sustainability
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  4. #5

    Unity Environmental University

    New Gloucester , ME
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Unity Environmental University

    Cost of Degree: $12,640
    Expenses: $14,236
    Starting Salary: $22,534
    Salary after 4 years: $40,286
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainable Business Management
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    6K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Concordia University Wisconsin

    Cost of Degree: $34,250
    Expenses: $20,000
    Starting Salary: $28,499
    Salary after 4 years: $50,949
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainability and Management Analytics

    Concentrations

    • Accounting
    • Communications and Public Relations
    • Finance
    • Healthcare Administration
    • Human Resource Management
    • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    • International Business
    • Management
    • Management Information Systems
    • Non-profit Management and Leadership
    • Public Administration
    • Risk Assessment and Management
    • Sport and Entertainment Business
    • Strategic Marketing
    • Sustainability and Management Analytics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  6. #7

    Prescott College

    Prescott , AZ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    98%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Prescott College

    Cost of Degree: $35,625
    Expenses: $12,876
    Starting Salary: $20,666
    Salary after 4 years: $36,946
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainability Leadership
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
    MBA in Sustainable Food Systems and Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 45
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  7. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Maharishi International University

    Cost of Degree: $16,530
    Expenses: $12,200
    Starting Salary: $18,317
    Salary after 4 years: $32,745
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Sustainable Business
    • Required Credits: 58
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  8. Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Concordia University Ann Arbor

    Cost of Degree: $34,200
    Expenses: $18,410
    Starting Salary: $24,462
    Salary after 4 years: $43,732
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Business Administration

    Concentrations

    • Accounting
    • Communications & Public Relations
    • Finance
    • Healthcare Leadership
    • Human Resource Management
    • Innovation & Entrepreneurship
    • International Business
    • Management
    • MIS (Management Information Systems) (STEM)
    • Nonprofit Management & Leadership
    • Public Administration
    • Risk Management
    • Sport and Hospitality Management
    • Strategic Marketing
    • Sustainability Management & Analytics (STEM)
    • Required Credits: 39
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: undefined
  9. #10

    Antioch University

    Culver City , CA

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for Sustainability degree at Antioch University

    Cost of Degree: $16,350
    Starting Salary: $25,185
    Salary after 4 years: $45,025

    Online Degrees

    MBA in Sustainable Business
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: 22 months
    • Format: undefined

Career Outlook for Students with Sustainability Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Sustainability Studies

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $38,616
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $50,489
  • * denotes ‘annually’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers7.49%$157,740
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other3.57%$95,890
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary3.30%$88,410
Urban and Regional Planners4.20%$81,800
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other3.21%$79,870

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers$157,740
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$95,890
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$88,410
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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Prospective Grad Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

See our complete guide to MBAs for more information.

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