Princeton Review releases 5th annual FREE guide to green colleges

American University made the 'Green Honor Roll'

Just in time for Earth Week, the Princeton Review recently released the fifth annual edition of its FREE downloadable guidebook honoring the nation’s most environmentally responsible “green colleges.”

“The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges:  2014 Edition” profiles 330 schools in the US and two in Canada demonstrating “exemplary commitments to sustainability in their academics, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.”

Developed in collaboration with the Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the 216-page book can be downloaded free of charge from either the Princeton Review or Center for Green Schools websites.

Although colleges are listed alphabetically and not by rank, the Princeton Review salutes 22 schools with Green Ratings of 99 on its “Green Honor Roll.”  This year, American University is the only local college to have earned this distinction.

In addition to detailed descriptions of environmental and sustainability initiatives, the guide provides statistics and facts on each school’s use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs, the availability of environmental studies programs, and career guidance for green jobs. For the uninitiated, a glossary of more than forty “green” terms and acronyms is also provided as well as lists of schools with LEED-certified buildings and advice for green living on campus.

Here's a fun fact:  Among the 332 colleges in the guide, 30 percent of their total food expenditures goes toward purchases of local and/or organic food.

Make no mistake—today’s undergrad really cares about the environment and sustainability.  And colleges are responding by reconfiguring priorities in virtually every area of campus life.

"Among 10,116 college applicants who participated in our 2014 'College Hopes & Worries Survey,' 61 percent said having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school," commented Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice president for publishing.

The Princeton Review chose the 332 schools based on a survey of hundreds of colleges that asked about institutional sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. Green Ratings were tallied for 832 institutions, and all those receiving a score of 83 or above were included in the guide.

For more information or to download a copy of the “Guide to 332 Green Colleges,” visit the Princeton Review website.

Disclosure: Nancy Griesemer is a member of the Princeton Review National College Counselor Advisory Board, 2013-14.