Michigan State University has been ranked No. 42 in the Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition for its strong culture of environmental responsibility and commitment to campus sustainability. MSU was the only university in Michigan to earn a spot on the top 50 list of more than 385 four-year institutions surveyed. MSU’s ranking is based on school-reported data and student feedback from institutional and student surveys conducted by Princeton Review.

“This ranking affirms the strength of MSU’s commitments to go green across the breadth of our Spartan mission,” said MSU Provost Laura Lee McIntyre. “Michigan State’s forward-thinking sustainability practices, innovative approaches to delivering sustainability education and groundbreaking sustainability research reflect our deep commitment to practicing and promoting environmental responsibility — and to fostering a healthy quality of life for everyone on our campus and beyond.”

MSU’s long-standing commitment to sustainability continues to evolve. With more than 800 courses incorporating sustainability into the curriculum or through experiential learning — plus three undergraduate degrees, 20 minors, 21 master’s degree programs and 16 doctoral programs rooted in sustainability — the university is preparing tomorrow’s leaders to tackle emerging sustainability challenges.

Recently, the Office of the Executive Vice President of Administration, in partnership with the MSU Office of Sustainability launched the Sustainability Systems Think Tank, or SSTT — a cross-functional team charged with providing thought leadership and developing a comprehensive framework to guide campus sustainability efforts. The 12-month initiative will:

• Shape long-term program direction by prioritizing policies and practices that position MSU as an institution for sustainability teaching, research and operations.

• Engage key stakeholders and informants through one-on-one conversations to capture diverse perspectives on sustainability at the university and the MSU Office of Sustainability.

• Gather broad community input from students, faculty and staff. The SSTT has already engaged with over 2,000 people for this collaborative effort.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because it takes into account the voices of our students — their first-hand experience is critical to the success of sustainability initiatives at MSU,” said Laura Young, assistant director of the Office of Sustainability. “It’s a reflection of dedicated people across the university who embrace what it means to Be Spartan Green and build a global culture where sustainability is woven into the fabric of our campus life, operations, scholarship and teaching.”

MSU’s commitment to sustainability is also underscored by numerous initiatives that have positioned MSU as a living laboratory — from piloting artificial intelligence systems to sort food waste, implementing new policy and stewarding the natural campus environment to upgrading the university’s microgrid system and anaerobic digester that powers parts of campus.

Learn more about sustainability efforts at MSU.

Other recent notable MSU rankings: