Raritan Valley Community College named to Princeton Review’s 2026 Guide to Green Colleges
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) has been recognized among the most environmentally responsible colleges in the nation, earning a spot in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition. RVCC is the only community college in New Jersey included in this year’s guide and received a Green Rating of 92 out of a possible 99.
Published annually since 2010, The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges highlights schools that excel in environmental sustainability. The 2026 edition includes 388 schools—322 in the U.S., 33 in Canada, and 33 in 16 countries abroad.
The Princeton Review selected institutions for inclusion based on detailed surveys conducted in 2024–2025, which gathered data on sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. The company also surveyed students about their schools’ support for environmental awareness and conservation.
RVCC’s sustainability efforts extend across academics, research, and operations. The college offers degrees in Environmental Studies and Environmental Science, integrates sustainability into multiple academic programs, and provides student internships through its Center for Environmental Studies. These interns collaborate with faculty and staff on campus-based sustainability initiatives.
RVCC’s campus also demonstrates a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, featuring pollinator gardens, a rain garden, an indoor green wall, a green roof, and rainwater harvesting systems. The college is certified as River Friendly and is a Bee Campus USA affiliate. Since 2005, RVCC has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 58% through solar installations and energy efficiency upgrades. In 2022, it achieved a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
“Since we debuted our Green Guide in 2010, we have seen dramatic growth in the number of colleges committing to sustainability practices—from constructing green-certified buildings to sourcing food locally,” said Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of The Princeton Review. “We applaud each one of the colleges that made our Guide’s 2026 edition, and we highly recommend these schools to students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a green one.”
Each school’s Green Rating is based on more than 25 data points assessing institutional performance in sustainability practices and education. Colleges included in the 2026 guide earned scores of 80 or higher.
As a group, the colleges featured in this year’s guide share notable achievements:
- 18% of their energy comes from clean and renewable sources
- 38% of their waste is diverted from landfills or incinerators
- 94% employ a sustainability officer
- 98% offer a sustainability-focused undergraduate major or degree
For more information about The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition, visit princetonreview.com/college-rankings/green-guide.
