In the given article the notion of social impact of the higher education institution is characterized through references to related terminology such as: impact analysis, impact evaluation, impact factor, impact indicator and net impact indicator. The equivalence of the framework for measuring higher education as a level in the structure of the education system and as an institution in the sense of a public entity is presented. The social impact of the investments of a higher education institution is exemplified through the case study method, presenting the value system on which the institutional management of the State Pedagogical University "Ion Creanga" in Chisinau is based, and the indicators for measuring the expected social impact.