UMass Amherst Rises to Top 10 in Princeton Review’s 2026 ‘Green Colleges’ List

UMass Amherst ranks in the top 10 among the nation's most environmentally responsible higher educational institutions, according to The Princeton Review's 2026 Guide to Green Colleges.

For the 10^th consecutive year, UMass Amherst has been recognized in the guide, which this year profiles 388 green colleges. The Princeton Review chose the colleges and universities based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion from its 2023-24 sustainability survey created by a team of experts on green practices in higher education. Survey topics ranged from academic offerings and campus initiatives to career preparation for green jobs.

Those selected as Top 50 Green Colleges exhibit superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education, and a healthy quality of life for students on campus, according to The Princeton Review. UMass Amherst placed No. 9 on this list and stands as the only public university in New England to place in the top 10.

More than 25 survey data points were analyzed by The Princeton Review editors to tally Green Rating scores for the schools on a scale of 60 to 99; UMass Amherst earned a score of 99. Colleges that earned a Green Rating of 80 or higher made it into the guide and were selected based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion, collected in 2024-25 through institutional and student surveys.

More about the methodology for the Green Colleges list can be found on The Princeton Review website.