USU Named one of 399 Green Colleges by the Princeton Review 2018 Edition

Utah State University is one of the 399 most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. The education services company known for its test prep and tutoring services, books, and college rankings features Utah State in the 2018 edition of its free book, The Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges. 

Published October 16, the ranking can be accessed at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.

The Princeton Review chose the schools for this ninth annual edition of its "green guide" based on data from the company's 2017-18 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools' commitments to the environment and sustainability

"We strongly recommend Utah State University and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges," said The Princeton Review's Robert Franek, editor-in-chief.

Franek noted that college applicants and their parents are increasingly concerned about the environment and sustainability issues. Among nearly 11,000 teens and parents The Princeton Review surveyed earlier this year for its 2018 "College Hopes & Worries Survey," 63 percent overall said having information about a college's commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school." 
 
The profiles in The Princeton Review's Guide to 399 Green Colleges provide information about each school's admission requirements, cost and financial aid, and student body stats. They also include "Green Facts" about the schools with details on the availability of transportation alternatives at the schools and the percentage of the school food budgets spent on local/organic food. 

The Princeton Review cites “At Utah State University, sustainability initiatives are rapidly developing as “Blue Goes Green.” To date, USU has retrofitted 3.5 million square feet of space with new, energy-efficient CFLs that have helped the university realize a cost savings of 30 percent, and Housing has installed 6,500 LEDs. In addition, USU replaced its coal-fired plant with natural gas co-generation in 2002, reducing emissions by approximately 55 percent.”

Utah State has been included on the Princeton Review’s list since 2011. The university is also rated Silver through the Sustainability, Tracking, Rating System (STARS). USU continues to improve in sustainable practices as it has saved $50,000 per year with efficiency enhancements and achieved LEED Silver certification on three more buildings in 2018.

How Schools Were Chosen for the Guide

The Princeton Review chose the colleges based on "Green Rating" scores the company tallied in summer 2018 for 648 colleges using data from its survey of administrators at the colleges in 2017-18. The survey asked them to report on their school's sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. More than 25 data points were weighted in the tallies for the Green Rating score which was done on a scale of 60 to 99.  Colleges with Green Rating scores of 80 or higher made it into this guide. The Green Rating scores can be found in the profiles of the schools on www.princetonreview.com and in the 2019 editions of The Princeton Review books, 

The Complete Book of Colleges and The Best 384 Colleges published in August 2018.  

Information about Princeton Review's Green Rating and its Green Honor Roll (which lists schools that receive the highest possible rating score, 99), is at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.
 

About the Student Sustainability Council
The Utah State University Sustainability Council formed in 2007 after the university became a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The Council seeks to reduce carbon emissions as well as conserve resources and enhance quality of life by promoting sustainability in USU’s academic and service missions.

About the Student Sustainability Office
The mission of the Utah State University Student Sustainability Office is to create a place on campus where students can generate and get help for their green ideas, obtain research grants for sustainability, and gain knowledge to take into their future.