USC Marshall Launches Business Program for Veterans

Not long ago, an MBA degree was regarded by many people as a passport to a lucrative professional job in a field such as investment banking or strategy consulting. While many students still pursue these career paths, a growing portion of them are looking for purpose as well as profit in their jobs.  In fact, making a positive social or environmental impact has overtaken pay and other perks as the top reasons MBA students pursue their career, according to an often-cited survey by Bain & Company, which, ironically, is a consultancy firm.  Curriculum changes are underway as business schools respond to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolution. Schools have been criticized for their apparent role in the global financial crisis and for focusing too heavily on maximizing shareholder return. Today many top MBA programs include an impact-related module, such as impact investing or social entrepreneurship.  The career opportunities in this field have flourished. CSR was previously something many companies merely paid lip service to, but they are making “impact” a fundamental piece of their business plans. There are now 2,655 certified “B Corporations”, or firms that verify their high social and environmental performance, across 150 industries and 60 countries, including the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s and the social media company Hootsuite.  Picking the right program, however, is crucial. So we’ve ranked the best MBAs for social or environmental impact, below. 

The politics of global business is becoming even more important as we witness the dismantling of the global post-war era, with the rise of neo-nationalism and protectionism in a multi-polar world. The current uncertainty has prompted business schools to launch or bolster MBA modules that help students get to grips with geopolitics.

The GMAT is no longer the only way to get into business school. Another standardized test—the GRE—has grown massively in popularity among MBA aspirants and schools alike.

New York state is home to some of the top business schools, not just in the US, but in the world. Here's a list of the best MBA programs in New York