UC Irvine ranked #20 in The Princeton Review's top 50 green colleges

The University of California, Irvine has been recognized as one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges by The Princeton Review, naming it #20 in the Top 50 Green Colleges in its newly released Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition.

The guide is available online at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide, It profiles 388 colleges that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to sustainability through campus culture, operations and academic offerings. UC Irvine earned a Green Rating of 97 out of 99, reflecting the university’s leadership in sustainability and environmental stewardship.

“The Princeton Review’s recognition underscores UC Irvine’s dedication to building a more sustainable future,” said Umashankar Ramasubramanian, executive director of Campus Planning & Sustainability. “Sustainability is a core value of our university — from our research and teaching to our day-to-day operations. We are proud to be acknowledged among the nation’s greenest campuses.”

The Princeton Review selected institutions for inclusion based on a comprehensive 2024–25 survey of administrators and students, evaluating more than 25 data points related to sustainability policies, practices and programs.

“Among the hundreds of schools we surveyed for this project, UC Irvine, which offers excellent academics, is also a stand-out for its record of environmentally responsible practices,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “We are delighted to recommend it to college applicants who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a ‘green’ one.”

UC Irvine’s innovative sustainability initiatives include operating the nation’s first all-electric university bus fleet, which has been fully electric since January 2018. The fleet has expanded to 25 buses and has logged over 1.18 million miles, traveling more than 184,000 miles annually while serving 1.46 million riders during the academic year. Charging the fleet costs just $0.37 per mile, a fraction of the $1.53 per mile cost of diesel, significantly reducing both expenses and emissions.

Interest in sustainability among prospective college students continues to grow. In The Princeton Review’s 2025 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 59% of more than 7,000 respondents said a school’s environmental commitment would influence their decision to apply or attend.

“UC Irvine’s inclusion among the Top 50 Green Colleges highlights its ongoing achievements in renewable energy, recycling, conservation, and environmental studies,” said Aarushi Gupta, senior sustainability planner.

The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges was first published in 2010.