The Greenest Colleges in the U.S.

Arizona State University is a leader in campus environmentalism, earning a platinum STARS rating in sustainability with a score of 91. Thanks to continued efforts in recycling and composting on campus, the institution will meet its zero-waste goals by 2025.

Prospective undergraduates looking to pursue geography and sustainability as a major in college will find options at ASU under the institution's College of Global Futures.

CSU prioritizes global sustainability through its research and coursework, earning it a platinum STARS rating with a score of 88.13. During the 2023-2024 academic year,  CSU research teams and faculty fellows submitted 18 papers to journals and conferences about environmentalism, conservation, biodiversity, and more.

CSU students interested in environmentalism can pursue a minor or graduate certificate with a sustainable focus under the institution's School of Global Environmental Sustainability.

In addition to its platinum STARS rating, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry offers sustainability courses in all academic departments. The institution spends 30% of total annual food and beverage expenditures on plant-based options and has diverted 52% of its campus materials from landfills by recycling, composting, or re-use.

Cornell renewed its platinum STARS rating in 2024, making it one of only seven institutions in the U.S. to hold the highest designation awarded through the STARS system. 

Cornell was the first Ivy League institution to pursue carbon neutrality in 2007, achieving that goal in just eight years. The campus is largely powered by renewable energy from on-site solar farms and a hydropower plant. In addition to clubs that center on sustainably, students have access to a catalog of over 700 classes focusing on sustainability.

The University of New Hampshire holds a platinum STARS rating thanks to its efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and engage the campus community in sustainable initiatives. 

As of 2024, the institution has reduced its greenhouse emissions by more than 50% and now emits two-thirds less carbon pollution than the average college campus. 

Students interested in furthering their environmental education can choose sustainability as a second major or apply for sustainable fellowships and internships.

Stanford has a platinum STARS rating of 85.88. As one of the most sustainable universities, Stanford has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% since 2000.

The university offers over 390 sustainability courses, alongside an interdisciplinary master's in sustainable science and practice, which focuses on the interconnected nature of socio-environmental systems.

Stanford's students can help their university become more environmentally friendly through the My Cardinal Green initiative. The program helps students develop an ongoing list of sustainable actions related to areas like food, transportation, shopping, and campus life.

At UC Merced, the institution has prioritized composting and decarbonization, earning it a platinum STARS rating with a score of 85.5. 

UC Merced students interested in sustainability courses can major in Earth systems sciences and biological sciences or minor in environmental science and sustainability.

Seattle University has a gold STARS rating thanks to its commitment to waste diversion, sustainable architecture, and its 100% fossil fuel divestment. SU has additionally reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 48% since 2009. 

Under the school's Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability, students can expect to find a strong emphasis on ecological education. SU offers students more than 500 sustainability-related courses and over 15 sustainability and justice groups.

UMass Lowell has reduced its carbon emissions by 32% per square foot since 2012, earning the institution a gold STARS rating. The school has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. 

Students, faculty, and staff at UMass Lowell have access to sustainability trails throughout campus and an urban agriculture program where they partner with local organizations to create community gardens.

UConn prioritizes sustainability initiatives and the conservation of resources like energy and water on and around its campus, earning the institution a gold STARS rating. As of fiscal year 2022, UConn has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 26% and aims to achieve total carbon neutrality by 2030.

In 2019, UConn introduced an environmental literacy general education requirement for all undergraduate students. Students interested in furthering their knowledge of sustainability additionally have access to over 30 undergraduate programs centered around the environment, as well as several graduate and master's level programs on the topic.