MBA applicants can get carried away with rankings. In this series, we profile amazing programs at business schools that are typically ranked outside the top 15.

Environmental sustainability and social impact are becoming increasingly important components of MBA programs. The University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business is leading the way to more ethically oriented business training, with all 20 of its required core courses and more than 140 electives involving social, ethical or environmental components. Relevant class offerings include “Ethical Leadership,” “Sustainable Enterprise,” “Ethics in Finance and Banking” and “Examination of Sustainability.” From orientation to graduation, students enjoy ample opportunities to participate in community outreach. The school has two ethics centers, a faculty whose recent research explores such topics as how carbon emissions relate to firm value and an Interterm Intensive session, during which students can immerse themselves in corporate social responsibility issues.