Top sustainable universities in the US

Consistently considered among the top universities in the US, Stanford University was founded in 1885 by California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, to “promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilisation”.

That commitment to public welfare is demonstrated in how well they score in our sustainability ranking, performing particularly well for the strength of its environmental education. This commitment to environmentalism perhaps isn't surprising when you consider the fact the university is nicknamed 'The Farm' due to its origins as farmland!

Pennsylvania State University is another university with farming foundations, having been established as an agricultural college initially. Today, its most impressive sustainability credentials are social as well as environmental, performing well for employability and opportunities in our latest ranking.

As well as performing well in this ranking, Penn State has a five-star QS Stars rating due to its performance in several categories including teaching, facilities and inclusiveness.

Few universities in the world, let alone the United States, are more impressive proponents of sustainability than the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). Prospective applicants to UCB can anticipate an education centred on strong sustainable credentials, all taught on a campus encompassing approximately 1,232 acres of the bay area of San Francisco, including many Beaux-Arts-style buildings which are recognised as California Historical Landmarks. 

As well as scoring extremely well for its environmental education, UCB also performs well across the various measures of social sustainability and good governance.