Reasons to Love Green Colleges
Three-quarters of the 14,093 teens and parents who took our 2021 College Hopes & Worries Survey told us that “green” issues would affect their decisions about where to apply—and ultimately, enroll.

If matters of sustainability matter to you, you’ll want to read about the interesting, important, and sometimes surprising initiatives that top-ranked colleges have launched. In honor of our tenth annual Guide to Green Colleges,  here are ten things you might not know about the top ten schools on our Top 50 Green Colleges list.

1. College of the Atlantic

With 75 percent of its faculty engaged in sustainability research, College of the Atlantic is the first college in the U.S. to focus on the relationship between humans and the environment.

2. Oberlin College

Oberlin College is home to the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA), a student-owned and managed cooperative dining system that buys a majority of its food from local vendors. A quarter of all students use them as their food source!

3. Middlebury College

By the end of 2028, Middlebury will transition to 100 percent renewable energy sources, eliminating the use of fossil fuels and natural gas. They plan to increase their investment in solar and hydro power, and when possible, make those investments in Vermont.

4. SUNY—ESF

There are a whopping 27 undergrad degree programs focusing on some aspect of environmental stewardship at The State University of New York—College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Sustainability-minded students can earn a B.S. in Conservation Biology, Paper Engineering, or Forest Health.

5. Pitzer College

Created by Pitzer students in 2001, the Green Bike Program (GBP) at provides students with a free loaner bike during the semesters, encouraging them to get around campus in an eco-friendly fashion.

6. Dickinson College (PA)

Thanks to the College Farm at Dickinson College, vegetables and beef are locally supplied from 12 acres of farmland and 18 acres of animal pasture.

7. Chatham University (PA)

In 1992, Chatham University launched one of the nation’s first environmental studies programs, and the school is now home to the largest solar thermal project in Pennsylvania.

8. Cornell University

Thirty percent of faculty and staff at Cornell are involved in sustainability research across 67 departments.

9. Whitman College

In 2019, instead of relying on herbicides to clear out overgrown and unwanted vegetation, Whitman College welcomed over 400 goats to campus to help clean up the area. 

10. Colorado State University

With 25 on-campus electric-car charging stations and 13 solar arrays, Colorado State University is on track to meet its goal of having 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.

Read about all 413 Green Colleges, and find your best-fit school.