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CIP 52.0704 Business

Social Entrepreneurship

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

95

2025 · 7 schools

International share

12.6%

12 international students

Bachelor's degrees

88

9.1% international

Master's degrees

7

57.1% international

Overview

Social Entrepreneurship is a dynamic field that blends the innovative spirit of entrepreneurship with a mission to address social issues. This discipline focuses on developing sustainable solutions to pressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges through entrepreneurial approaches. Social entrepreneurs identify problems within their communities or society at large and create ventures that not only aim for financial profitability but also prioritize social impact.

The field encompasses a wide range of activities, including the creation of nonprofit organizations, for-profit social enterprises, and hybrid models that combine elements of both. Social entrepreneurs leverage business principles to drive social change, often using innovative methods to deliver goods and services to underserved populations, improve livelihoods, and foster community development.

Educational programs in Social Entrepreneurship typically cover topics such as social innovation, impact measurement, sustainable business practices, and ethical leadership. Students engage in case studies, develop business plans for social ventures, and may even participate in internships with existing social enterprises. They learn to analyze social problems critically and to devise effective strategies to create positive change.

With the growing recognition of the importance of social responsibility in the business world, Social Entrepreneurship is increasingly gaining traction. Graduates of this field often go on to lead organizations that have a meaningful impact, work in corporate social responsibility, or advocate for policy changes that align with social equity and justice. Overall, Social Entrepreneurship represents a powerful intersection of business acumen and social mission, aiming to create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2020 to 2025, graduates grew 252% and the international share went from 11.1% to 12.6%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
67.4%
Asian
3.2%
Hispanic
10.5%
Black
2.1%
Other
4.2%
Intl.
12.6%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 7 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 16 0
#133 University of Vermont Vermont 25 3
#208 Belmont University Tennessee 2 0
LAC #74 Rollins College Florida 18 3
— Loyola University Maryland Maryland 11 0
— St. Francis College New York 7 4
— John Carroll University Ohio 2 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
General and Operations Managers 3,503,020 $64.87 $134,940
Managers, All Other 622,190 $73.99 $153,890
Chief Executives 204,350 $129.63 $269,630

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2020–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.