NC State University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This is the third Gold rating earned by NC State and is valid for three years.
STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability across all aspects of higher education. With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance.
“The STARS Gold rating showcases NC State’s commitment to stewardship, collaboration and innovation,” said Allen Boyette, assistant vice chancellor for Campus Operations and Maintenance and co-chair of the University Sustainability Council. “This recognition honors a true campus-wide effort to enhance operational excellence on our campus, prepare students for impactful careers and solve real-world challenges.”
Strength in Academics and Research
STARS measures sustainability in five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, leadership and innovation.
Among its strongest areas, NC State excelled in the academics category, particularly in research, earning one of its highest proportional scores in the entire report. This score reflects NC State’s deep engagement with sustainability challenges, from energy systems to circular economy solutions. This work showcases the practical, data-driven solutions to real-world challenges that reinforces sustainability as a core value of NC State’s strategic plan.
The university also earned a perfect score in the innovation category, underscoring its commitment to piloting new ideas and advancing solutions that extend beyond standard sustainability practices.
“Our reputation for ‘think and do’ sustainability is a powerful draw for students to attend NC State,” said Walt Robinson, professor in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and co-chair of the University Sustainability Council. “This STARS Gold rating reinforces that NC State’s reputation is both earned and measurable. More importantly, it reflects the full student experience: the campus environment where they live, the courses that challenge them and the wonderful research opportunities that prepare them to lead in a changing world.”
Sustainability in Action: Campus Impact
NC State’s progress in its campus operations and engagement also contributed to the Gold rating.
Since 2003, the university has reduced overall energy use by 30% despite a 57% increase in campus gross square footage. Total campus water use has declined 47% since 2002 and 55% of campus waste is now diverted through recycling, composting and reuse programs. Sustainable transportation remains a priority at NC State, with more than 3 million passengers riding the Wolfline bus system last year. In addition, the university hosted more than 650 sustainability-related events last year, reflecting strong engagement across students, faculty and staff.
“The STARS Gold recognition belongs to the entire Wolfpack community, including faculty advancing cutting-edge research, students driving change and staff improving how our campus operates every day,” said Carla Davis, director of the University Sustainability Office.
STARS Gold is the latest sustainability recognition for NC State, which is ranked by the QS World University Rankings in the top 5% globally for sustainability and #18 in the United States for 2026. The university also holds national sustainability-related certifications from Tree Campus USA, Bee Campus USA, Green Seal and as a Best Workplace for Commuters and Bicycle Friendly University.
NC State’s complete STARS report is available online.
This post was originally published in Sustainability News.
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