Sustainability

Impact MBA students visiting a solar farm.

A student bikes on the mixed-use trail outside Rockwell Hall.

Building a Better World Through Business

The College of Business weaves sustainability into teaching, research, and real-world experiences so students learn how business can create positive change. We help tomorrow’s leaders understand how to make practical decisions that support people, communities, and the planet. That’s what our ethos, Business for a Better World, is all about.

Sustainable business is learned in and outside the classroom, lived by our academic community and championed by alumni who are driving meaningful change in businesses and communities across the globe.

Our approach to sustainable business has made the College a global leader in responsible business education. Interested in pursuing a business degree that prepares you for meaningful work? Connect with us.

What is sustainable business?

Sustainable business is the practice of running a company in a way that creates value today while protecting people, communities and the environment for the future.

The triple bottom line – people, planet, profit – underlies sustainable business operations and is emphasized in many College of Business degree programs, such as our Impact MBA.

By focusing on the triple bottom line, businesses reduce operational waste, support their people and improve long-term performance.

MBA students and a professor discuss an assignment in the Mosaic MBA classroom as virtually-participating students look on in the background.

Applied Learning Experiences

Practical experience is essential for academic success and to compete in the worldwide job market. The College offers opportunities for undergrads and graduate students to gain real-world experience, like leading sustainability initiatives with local companies and contributing to faculty research projects.

Two women at a table in a cafe examine a note.

World-Class Curriculum

The College stands out in sustainable business education with outstanding academic experiences that integrate sustainability into all programs. The College of Business is a signatory on a United Nations compact that seeks to achieve the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals through responsible management education, one of many sustainability partnerships the College engages in to raise global standards for responsible business practices and education.
100% of undergraduate students take at least one sustainable business course.

What sustainable business courses does the CSU College of Business offer?

The CSU College of Business integrates sustainability across its full curriculum. The College also offers 24 courses related to sustainable business across its undergraduate and core MBA programs, such as Transforming Business for Societal Impact, Corporate Sustainability Strategy, Sustainable Venturing and the New Energy Economy, and Corporate Social and Sustainable Responsibility.

The College also offers:

An undergraduate concentration in sustainable business
A graduate certificate in sustainable business
A full-time sustainability MBA program, the Impact MBA

Sustainability on Campus

Sustainability is also an important part of the College’s culture outside the classroom. From resource-efficient facilities and thoughtful landscaping to clubs and competitions centered on responsible business practices, sustainable efforts are tangible across the College and the CSU campus.

Members of the College's Sustainable Business Club pose for a phot during a day of fieldwork.

Student Club Sponsors Professional Development

The Sustainable Business Club supports student efforts to earn a sustainability certification to set themselves apart in the job market.

A man biking outside of Rockwell Hall West

College Replaces 15K+ Miles Through Alternative Transportation

Since 2023, College staff and faculty have replaced more than 15,000 commuter miles through alternative transportation initiatives.

Two women pose for a photo in front of a research presentation poster.

College Awards $18K to Support Responsible Business Research

Executive liability, cocaine trafficking disruption and climate-related risk management were among the winning topics at the College’s fifth annual dissertation proposal competition.

How does the CSU College of Business compare to other schools for sustainability?

Colorado State is a national and global leader in sustainability. CSU was ranked second in the nation and third in the world in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index calculated by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. We were the first college to earn Platinum sustainability status in 2015 and are the only institution in the world to have received a Platinum rating five times.

The CSU College of Business plays a significant role in campuswide sustainability achievements and education. Our director of sustainability plays a leading role in campus-wide sustainability efforts, and our MBA programs have consistently been ranked among the nation and world’s best Better World MBA programs by Corporate Knights, a rating that emphasizes sustainable and responsible business practices.

The CSU College of Business has set a standard for sustainable business education that its in-state rivals have not matched. The University of Denver currently offers a concentration in sustainability or certificate in corporate social responsibility exclusively for MBA students. And while the University of Colorado is set to launch a sustainable business graduate degree program in 2026, neither school has integrated sustainable business into its core curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels as CSU has, and only CSU's Fort Collins campus is ranked in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.

Impactful Research

As an R1 research institution, Colorado State University is among some of the most advanced research colleges in the U.S. College of Business faculty shape classroom experiences and produce influential research that advances sustainable business solutions for complex challenges in a variety of industries.

Stopping Wildlife Trafficking Through Supply Chain Disruption

Illegal wildlife trafficking is a complex problem. An interdisciplinary team is studying how disrupting supply chains strategically can topple trafficking networks.

Investigating the Evolving Role of Organizational Purpose in Business

More consumers and employees are gravitating toward brands that pursue goals beyond the bottom line. Three CSU researchers have developed a purpose orientation model for analyzing company practices as businesses adapt.

What sustainable business groups and initiatives are there at CSU?

There are dozens of student organizations and resource centers related to sustainability at CSU.

Central organizations like the Coalition of Sustainable Student Organizations and the Student Sustainability Center help coordinate projects and initiatives across campus, and students of all levels can explore more than 50 groups devoted to sustainability, including sustainability clubs related to specific academic disciplines, like the Sustainable Business Club or the Impact Venture Association, and project-based clubs, like Alternative Breaks or the Zero Waste Team.

Visit the Green @ CSU website to learn more about sustainability groups at Colorado State.

The University is pursuing numerous sustainability initiatives across academics, research and campus. Some of the most significant sustainability initiatives include a goal of carbon neutrality by 2040, the integration of clean energy infrastructure and green building practices across the CSU system, and a sustainability fund that finances energy and water efficiency projects across campus.

Sustainability in Action

College of Business alumni take Business for a Better World to heart, leveraging the skills and connections they've developed in our community to support sustainable business growth and meaningful change in a variety of industries and communities. Their continuing impact demonstrates how sustainable business practices transform lives and the breadth of opportunity one can pursue with a business degree.

Impact MBA Students Wins Statewide Green Award

Liz Jenkins was recognized for the pollution prevention she achieved during her summer fellowship.

Impact MBA alum Katelynn Martinez poses for a photo in the conservation nursery of OneCanopy, the nonprofit she cofounded.

Alum Supports Regional Reforestation Efforts

Katelynn Martinez founded a conservation nursery whose trees directly support forest recovery across the state and western U.S.

CSU Campus Energy Coordinator Stacey Baumgarn helps out at an Earth Day Event outside the Lory Student Center.

Impact MBA Alum Advances Sustainability On Campus

Stacey Baumgarn champions sustainability initiatives at CSU as campus energy coordinator.

How can the CSU College of Business help me pursue a career in sustainability?

College of Business students and alumni enjoy free access to an exclusive Career Management Center, which provides a wealth of free career counseling and support services, including numerous resources for those interested in working in sustainability.

Students can explore sustainable business career paths on the CMC website and connect with industry mentors and CSU alumni working in sustainability via the Rams Connect networking platform.

Producing Leaders in Sustainable Business

90%

Undergrad job offer rate within 180 days of graduation

99%

MBA job offer rate within 180 days of graduation

Better World MBA program in the U.S. among large schools

Our approach to sustainable business education stands out where it matters most. College of Business students enjoy high rates of success in the job market, securing lucrative opportunities or continuing education following graduation.

Connect with an advisor Learn more about our graduates' career outcomes