UConn is one of only two US universities in the Top 10
A HuskyGo electric bus-the first of its kind in its fleet-sits next to the bus stops in the W Lot on Sept. 23, 2024. More electric buses are joining the fleet this fall. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
For five years in a row, UConn has been named one of the top 10 most sustainable universities in the world by UI GreenMetric. The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings is a comprehensive international system that reviews 1,745 colleges and universities in 105 countries on their sustainability performance. For 2025, UConn ranks at number eight, two spots higher than its 10th place ranking in 2024.
UI GreenMetric was created by Universitas Indonesia in 2010 and reviews applicants based on 39 indicators and six criteria for environmental sustainability. These include waste, water, education, energy, transportation, and infrastructure. This year, performance toward the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was an additional component of their assessment.
Only two U.S. institutions placed within the top ten - UConn and the University of California (Davis). UC Davis scored slightly higher than UConn in their Setting/Infrastructure and Energy/Climate Change categories, placing 7th in the ranking. UC Davis holds Renewable Energy Certificates and has an on-site, 16.3-megawatt solar power plant which allows them to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Data for the assessment came from multiple departments across the University, and student interns at the Office of Sustainability played a major role in submitting the report.
Morgan Randall '27 (ENG) assisted in this year's submission, covering topics like water conservation and campus energy use. "Data collection covering six different sustainability-based reporting categories was only possible due to the collaboration and hard work of four undergraduate Sustainability Interns. Throughout September and October, we gathered data from UConn staff, faculty, and facilities in order to cover all of the necessary data points in the UI GreenMetric survey," says Randall.
"Our strong performance in global sustainability rankings like UI GreenMetric reflects not just a year of hard work, but a longstanding, University-wide commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and performance," says Patrick McKee, director of the UConn Office of Sustainability. "This honor belongs to the many people and teams at UConn who make our sustainability efforts possible. Being recognized as the 8th most sustainable university in the world is both a celebration and a responsibility. It affirms that the work we are doing matters-and it motivates us to deepen our impact and lead on issues that define the future of higher education and our planet. There is a lot of important work ahead, and it will require engagement from the entire UConn community to truly become sustainable."
UConn's Office of Sustainability and its team of students are responsible for collecting and submitting sustainability performance data to various other ranking and accreditation organizations such as the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (AASHE STARS), Tree Campus USA, and Bee Campus USA, as well as leading student engagement efforts throughout the year, like RecycleThon and Haunted HEEP. Learn more about UConn's hub for sustainability at the Office of Sustainability website.
