Raritan Valley Community College named nation’s top community college for sustainability
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — Raritan Valley Community College has been recognized as the top community college in the United States for its sustainability efforts in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index, published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
The Sustainable Campus Index highlights top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 13 impact areas, as measured through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®).
This marks the 11th consecutive year RVCC has been nationally recognized by AASHE for sustainability. The college earned a Gold rating in AASHE STARS in 2022, which measures environmental, social, and economic sustainability in higher education.
“We are very honored that Raritan Valley Community College’s proven track record in reducing its carbon footprint is being acknowledged by AASHE, earning RVCC the distinction as the top community college in the United States for its sustainability efforts,” said RVCC President Michael J. McDonough. “The College’s commitment to sustainability is one of the central themes of its new, five-year Strategic Plan, which calls on RVCC to ‘lead with sustainability by embedding environmentally responsible practices within educational experiences and every aspect of campus operations.’”
With more than 1,200 participants in 56 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the world’s most widely recognized framework for publicly reporting comprehensive information on a college or university’s sustainability performance. Institutions report achievements in academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
“All of us at AASHE are delighted to highlight Raritan Valley Community College in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Your innovative and high-impact initiative demonstrates what is possible when colleges and universities embrace sustainability as a core value. By modeling bold action, your institution inspires peers across higher education and strengthens the collective progress we are making toward addressing global sustainability challenges.”
RVCC has reduced its campus energy emissions by 58% since 2005. The college is River Friendly, a Bee Campus USA affiliate, and Monarch Watch certified. It has three solar installations, a greenhouse, 12 publicly available electric car charging stations, a green roof and green wall, pollinator gardens, a rain garden, three rainwater harvesting systems, and three LEED-certified buildings. In 2009, RVCC became the first community college in the nation to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency.
