Michigan State University is the only university in Michigan to be included on the Princeton Review’s list of Top 50 Green Colleges, coming in at No. 48 in the nation.

“This recognition reinforces the work Spartans do to foster a culture of environmental responsibility in our community,” said MSU Executive Vice President for Administration Melissa Woo.

The list is part of the Princeton Review 2024 Guide to Green Colleges. The 522 schools selected for the guide all have exceptional programs, policies and practices related to sustainability and the environment. The Princeton Review noted the top 50 schools that have demonstrated a commitment to renewable energy and waste diversion programs.

MSU has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 36% since 2010 through measures that include eliminating coal as a fuel source, incorporating energy efficiency improvements, installing solar carport arrays, leveraging an anaerobic digester that generates electricity from campus organic waste, and implementing energy conservation measures. In 2023, MSU diverted more than 12 million pounds of materials from the landfill including 2.2 million pounds of cardboard.

“The dedication, passion and advocacy of our students, faculty and staff are the foundation to all our sustainability efforts,” said Laura Young, MSU sustainability manager. “This recognition shows that green is more than our school color.”

Some of MSU’s sustainability achievements include:

• No. 26 in Times Higher Education’s 2023 Impact Rankings
• Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
• Gold rating as a Bicycle Friendly University
• Gold-level designation for a campus culture of health and well-being from Exercise is Medicine
• Seven consecutive years designated as a Tree Campus from the Arbor Day Foundation
• 2023 Excellence in Sustainability Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers

The Princeton Review determined rankings for the Top 50 Green Colleges for 2024 based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion, collected in 2022-23 via institutional and student surveys.

Learn more about sustainability efforts at MSU.