Too Cool for School

The Princeton Review may be best known for its annual "Top Party School" survey, but fluffy kind buds aren't the only greens being celebrated in the halls of higher education. Published this week, the second annual Green Rating survey profiled 697 American universities in regards to sustainability, with a criteria of environmentally related policies and practices, as well as availability of environmental studies courses.

Participating schools were asked ten questions, covering everything from recycling programs and energy use, to transportation and action plans on greenhouse gas reductions, then ranked on a scale of 60 to 99.

"The 'green' movement on college campuses is far more than an Earth Day recycling project," said Princeton Review Publisher Robert Franek. "It is growing tremendously among students and administrators alike. This year we saw a 30 percent increase in the number of colleges participating in our Green Rating survey."

Originally developed in 2007 with ecoAmerica – a nonprofit environmental solutions provider – Princeton Review's Green Rating is concerned with, "1) whether the school's students have a campus quality of life that is healthy and sustainable, 2) how well the school is preparing its students for employment and citizenship in a world defined by environmental challenges, and 3) the school's overall commitment to environmental issues."

Of the 700 participating private and public institutions, Princeton Review also selected the crème for its 2010 Green Rating Honor Roll, a list saluting the top 15 schools tied in first place with the highest environmental score. Some of those earning Green Honor Roll status include the Arizona State University, Tempe, which has the most energy-providing solar panels of any university campus.

College of the Alantic, on the other hand, offers only one major, Human Ecology, placing a natural emphasis on the environment. The campus boasts complete carbon neutrality, with all electricity sourced from renewable hydropower. Meanwhile, besides offering vegan, vegetarian, organic and fair trade foods at its four dining facilities, Carlisle, Pennsylvania's Dickinson College sends 800 lbs. of biodegradable waste and compostable tableware to its organic farm each week.

While college affordability and the economy are the number one concerns for college applicants, environmental factors are now playing a bigger role in students' and parents' college choices. According to the Green Ratings press release, of 16,000 college applicants questioned in Princeton Review's annual "College Hopes and Worries" survey, 66 percent of respondents "said they would value having information about a college's commitment to the environment," a four percent increase over last year.

If you or your student are actively exploring colleges and the environment weighs into your criteria, the green college profiles can be seen in the Princeton Review's annual books, The Best 371 Colleges ($22.99), The Best Northeastern Colleges ($16.99), and Complete Book of Colleges ($26.99).

(Photo courtesy Anne Oeldorfhirsch, Flickr Commons)