Bentley Named a Top Green College — What It Reveals About Our Sustainability Progress

At Bentley University, “sustainability” isn’t just a buzz word — it’s measurable progress.

For nearly two decades, our institution has risen to the challenge, working to reduce environmental impact while also preparing students to lead in a world shaped by climate risk.

That long-term commitment was recognized this year when The Princeton Review named Bentley among the best in the nation in its 2026 Guide to Green Colleges, awarding the university a near-perfect 98 out of 99 Green Rating and ranking it #17 nationally.

How It Started, How It’s Going

Bentley’s formal sustainability journey began in 2007, when then-President Gloria Cordes Larson signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. The pledge launched the university’s carbon footprint tracking efforts and set a long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

That early commitment laid the foundation for more coordinated, campus-wide action. In 2021, Bentley introduced its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), developed through a yearlong process that engaged more than 300 students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The plan established five focus areas that continue to guide sustainability efforts across academics, operations and community engagement.

Since then, Bentley has made measurable progress. The university holds a Gold rating in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (AASHE STARS) and has been named a Top Performer in AASHE’s Sustainable Campus Index, with national recognition for achievements in Energy and Climate.

On the operations side, Bentley’s campus electricity is supplied through a wind energy contract tied to the Kibby Wind Farm in Maine. This arrangement is expected to power 100% of campus operations through the end of 2027 and support continued progress toward emissions goals.

Bentley has also reduced energy and water demand through its Green Revolving Fund (GRF), which finances efficiency projects and reinvests verified utility savings into future initiatives. Recent reporting shows the GRF delivering a 28.6% annual return on investment.

Beyond energy, Bentley published its first Waste Minimization Plan in September 2024, shifting the focus from waste diversion to waste prevention. The plan outlines strategies to reduce the total volume of waste leaving campus, strengthen reuse systems, and deepen community engagement.

Together, these efforts helped earn Bentley national recognition in Princeton Review named Bentley a Green Colleges, where the university received a near-perfect Green Rating and ranked #17 nationally.

How The Princeton Review Measures ‘Green Colleges’

The Princeton Review’s Green Rating uses a 60–99 scale to assess how “environmentally aware and prepared” an institution is. Emphasis is placed on campus quality of life, student preparation and whether a school’s policies are environmentally responsible or not, and to what degree. 

For the 2026 guide, The Princeton Review selected 388 of 401 surveyed schools, drawing primarily from administrator reporting (a 25‑question sustainability survey) alongside student input. The publication analyzed more than 25 data points and included only schools scoring 80 or higher.

Bentley’s score of 98 out of a possible 99 means our university scored highly across all categories and measurements, from criteria such as the university’s energy consumption to its composting and recycling programs.

What’s Next: Building on Momentum in 2026

Bentley’s sustainability work is not done. In fact, we’re now entering into our next phase: turning long-term commitments into near-term action and broader community participation.

Currently, the Office of Sustainability is developing a Carbon Neutrality Roadmap with support from cross-campus committees, with planning outputs targeted for early spring 2026. The Roadmap will outline concrete steps towards the university’s final push in reaching carbon neutrality.

As sustainability challenges continue to shape higher education (and the world beyond campus), Bentley’s recognition as a Green College reflects more than a strong rating. It underscores a long-term commitment to measurable progress, accountability and action.

Climate commitments are easy to announce. They're much harder to sustain. Here’s to another year of undeniable progress.