The annual list highlights schools with policies and practices that advance sustainability and environmental stewardship across academics, operations, and student life.
“Our inclusion in the Princeton Review’s Green Colleges list affirms what our community has known for years: that Cal Poly Humboldt is deeply committed to sustainability,” says Morgan King, climate analyst at Cal Poly Humboldt. “This recognition inspires us to keep innovating and engaging students, faculty, and staff in the work of building a resilient, environmentally responsible campus and region.”
The selection is based on more than 25 data points provided by institutions and students who attend them, including the use of renewable energy, construction of green-certified buildings, waste diversion efforts, sustainability-focused academic programs, and student involvement in green initiatives.
This information is used to generate a rating on a scale of 60 to 99. Institutions with ratings of 80 or more were included on the list. Cal Poly Humboldt was one of 388 that made the list.
When deciding which college to attend, sustainability is an important factor. According to Princeton Review’s College Hopes & Worries Survey, 59% of high schoolers polled said that a college's sustainability efforts affect whether they will apply or attend certain schools.
Cal Poly Humboldt’s curriculum, policies, and programs are deeply rooted in its long-standing commitment to social and environmental stewardship:
- The Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility began in 1987 and has been adopted by hundreds of universities worldwide.
- Cal Poly Humboldt ranked No. 4 on the Post-Landfill Action Network's Top 10 Zero Waste Campuses in the U.S. in 2025. The ranking is assessed by PLAN's Atlas Zero Waste Certification Program.
- Cal Poly Humboldt’s Schatz Energy Research Center is a global leader in clean-energy technology research.
- Environmental and social responsibility are embedded in curricula across campus, and students can pursue sustainability-focused degrees, including the Sustainability minor, and majors in Environmental Studies and Environmental Resource Engineering.
- Cal Poly Humboldt was the first public university in California to stop selling single‐use plastic water bottles, and it supports initiatives such as reusable to-go containers, local food sourcing for dining, a bike-share service, and no-cost unlimited ride access to regional buses for students.
- Student-driven programs include the Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program (WRRAP) with composting, zero-waste, and campaigns; the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) eco-demonstration home; and the Oh SNAP! Student Food Programs' food pantry initiative is tied to food and housing insecurity research.
- The Library is only the fourth academic library in the country and the second in the California State University (CSU) system to earn a Sustainable Library Certification from the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. The University is also among the first in the CSU system to have a librarian solely dedicated to sustainability.
- The University holds a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education STARS assessment for campus-wide sustainability achievements.
- Cal Poly Humboldt is also home to the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute, which allows students to engage in food justice and promote sustainable practices.
For more information, visit the campus Sustainability office at humboldt.edu/sustainable-campus