Accolades & Sustainability Ratings (STARS)
See Seattle University’s sustainability awards and rankings, including our STARS Gold rating placing us among the top ten higher education institutions in the nation for our sustainability performance.
Ratings and Rankings
2025
- Selected for inclusion in Princeton Review "Guide to Green Colleges". On Princeton's Green Rating, based on a scale of 60-99, Seattle University received 92.
- In the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) 2025 Sustainable Campus Index, Seattle University ranked as a top performer in Master’s Institutions overall (#2), Procurement & Waste (#5), and Well-being & Work (#7).
- The Puget Sound Business Journal and Slalom recognized Seattle University with a 2025 Environmental and Sustainability Award for Operational Excellence.
- Seattle University is listed among the 2025 Top 10 Zero Waste Campuses in the United States, ranked #7 as assessed by the Post-Landfill Action Network’s (PLAN) Atlas Zero Waste Certification® program.
- Awarded 2025 Laudato Si' Action Platform Certificate by Laudato Si’ Action Platform, sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
- Since 2017, Seattle University has earned the "Tree Campus Higher Education" designation from the Arbor Day Foundation program.
2024
- GOLD rating (score of 83.87) on the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™(STARS). This ranks Seattle University #1 of all Gold STARS-rated schools and places us in the Top 10 of all STARS-rated higher education institutions in the country based on SU's fourth STARS report from May 2024. Compared to the university's first report in February 2016 (scored 69.41), our most recent score reflects the improvements in our campus practices and underlines our sustainability commitment and action.
- National Wildlife Federation Campus Race to Zero Waste: SU ranked #1 in the medium sized campus division of the diversion category and #2 nationally in the diversion from landfill category.
2023
- Seattle University obtained the Green Grounds "Platinum" Certification, awarded by Re:wild Your Campus
- Seattle University in The Environmental Magazine's list of 10 Colleges & Universities That Support the Eco-Friendly Agenda
STARS Report
In 2024, Seattle University earned a GOLD rating of 83.87 on the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Report.