Our Progress

The following Annual Sustainability Reports were issued by the NC State Sustainability Council, covering the fiscal year July 1 through June 30.

• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016

Annual sustainability reports released in 2015 and prior were issued by the (defunct) Campus Environmental Sustainability Team.

• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2008

• 2011-2016 Strategic Plan Final Report
• Assessment and recommendations by students in the Advanced Auditing classes in the Masters of Accounting Program covering the 2015-2016 Annual Sustainability Report
• Assessment and recommendations by students in the Advanced Auditing classes in the Masters of Accounting Program covering the 2013-2014 Annual Sustainability Report
• Assessment and recommendations by students in the Advanced Auditing classes in the Masters of Accounting Program covering the 2012-2013 Annual Sustainability Report
•  NC State’s reports submitted to the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) Report System, a national third-party sustainability reporting system by AASHE that awarded NC State a Gold rating for sustainability.

QS World University Rankings: Sustainability

• Ranked #91 globally out of 1,751 institutions that report data to QS
• Ranked #23 in the Americas
• Ranked #14 in the United States

NC State retains its Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), through October 2025. In addition, NC State remains certified as a Bee Campus USA and Tree Campus USA

NC State also remains certified as a Bicycle Friendly University (Silver Level) and was recognized as a Best Workplace for Commuters in 2025.

Global Ranking for Sustainability Impact:

• NC State is globally recognized for its sustainability impact in the Times Higher Education 2024 Impact Report.
  • Top 15% of schools worldwide for its contributions toward the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
  • No. 12 among U.S. universities for overall sustainable impact.
  • No. 3 in the U.S. and top 1% in the world for “Life Below Water” (SDG Goal 14)
  • No. 4 in the U.S. and top 10% in the world for “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” (SDG Goal 9)
  • No. 4 in the U.S. and top 5% in the world for “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG Goal 6)
  • No. 5 in the U.S. and top 5% in the world for “Life on Land” (SDG Goal 15)
• In the QS World University Rankings, NC State ranked #67 in the U.S. and #100 across the Americas for sustainability impact.

NC State retains its Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), through October 2025. In addition, NC State remains certified as a Bee Campus USA, Tree Campus USA and Bicycle Friendly University (Silver Level).

Global Ranking for Sustainability Impact:

• NC State is globally recognized for its sustainability impact in the Times Higher Education 2023 Impact Report.
  • No. 5 in the U.S. for “Responsible Consumption and Production” (SDG Goal 12)
  • No. 7 in the U.S. for “Life Below Water” (SDG Goal 14)
  • No. 8 in the U.S. for “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” (SDG Goal 9) and “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG Goal 6)
  • In addition to being in the top 300 globally for its overall ranking, NC State also ranked No. 47 globally for “Life Below Water” (SDG Goal 14).
• In the QS World University Rankings, NC State ranked No. 18 in the U.S. for Sustainability Research.

Top Green College List: NC State was selected for the Princeton Review’s 2023 Guide to Green Colleges.

Global Ranking for Sustainability Impact:

• NC State received a Gold rating in Sustainability Tracking Assessment, and Reporting System (STARS)
• NC State ranks in 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Report, which evaluates the research, stewardship, outreach and teaching contributions of universities toward the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • No. 4 in the U.S. and tied for No. 26 in the world for “Life Below Water” (SDG Goal 14)
  • No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 50 in the world for “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG Goal 6)
  • No. 9 in the U.S. and top 200 globally for “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” (SDG Goal 9)
  • Top 25% (out of 1,431) for “Partnership for the Goals” (SDG Goal 17)
  • Top 3rd (out of 938) for “Gender Equality” (SDG Goal 5)
  • Top 200 for “Zero Hunger” (SDG Goal 2), “Reduced Inequalities” (SDG Goal 10), “Responsible Consumption and Production” (SDG Goal 12), and “Life on Land” (SDG Goal 15)
  • Overall, NC State ranked in the top 200 universities around the globe and tied for No. 7 among U.S. universities
• QS World University Rankings: Sustainability lists NC State No. 45 in the U.S. and No 18 in the U.S. for Sustainable Research

Top Green College List: The Princeton Review ranked NC State 18th on its 2022 “Top Green Colleges”.

Campus Sustainability Achievement Award: NC State’s efforts to address food and housing insecurity were recognized with a national Campus Sustainability Achievement Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Zero Waste Wolfpack: Waste diversion efforts at Carter-Finley stadium won the 2021 Gameday Recycling Challenge Award for Waste Minimization Per Capita.

2021-22 Awards and Honors: NC State faculty, staff students and alumni have garnered significant recognition for their accomplishments over the past year.

In its first year participating, NC State ranked in the 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, which evaluates the research, stewardship, outreach and teaching contributions of universities toward the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NC State ranked:

• No. 1 in the U.S. and tied for No. 6 in the world on the goal of “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” (SDG Goal 9)
• No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 41 in the world for “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG Goal 6)
• No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 64 in the world for “Zero Hunger” (SDG Goal 2)
• Tied for No. 30 in the U.S. for “Partnerships for the Goals” (SDG Goal 17)
• Overall, NC State ranked in the top 300 out of 1,115 universities around the globe and tied for No. 16 among U.S. universities.
• NC State’s Social Innovation Fellows program won the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award, recognizing colleges’ and universities’ exceptional achievement in the field.

Top Green College List: The Princeton Review ranked NC State 30th on its 2020 “Top 50 Green Colleges” list announced Fall 2020.

An ‘Energy Elite’: Among 187 U.S.-based research colleges and universities with energy programs, NC State was named one of 10 “Energy Elite” colleges and universities by the American Energy Society (AES), cited as “the most accomplished and least recognized program in the country.”

Co-Curricular Innovation: NC State’s Social Innovation Fellows program won the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award, recognizing colleges’ and universities’ exceptional achievement in the field.

Sustainable Athletics: Zero Waste Wolfpack program wins GameDay Recycling Challenge Waste Minimization per Capita

Top Green College List: The Princeton Review ranked NC State 17th on its 2019 “Top 50 Green Colleges” list with the highest possible score — a 99 out of 99.

Greening the Course: Lonnie Poole was the 2019 honoree for the North Carolina GCOA’s Sustainability Award to recognize the ability to incorporate sustainability and environmental stewardship into operating practices.

Talley Tops: NC State’s Talley Student Union received the Marquee Green Building Award from the U.S. Green Building Council North Carolina and South Carolina as part of its annual Sustainable Business awards. The awards recognize excellence in sustainable design, environmental stewardship and community impact.

City Honors: NC State University Housekeeping has been honored with the Business Innovation for Environmental Stewardship Award by the City of Raleigh. The award, which is part of the City’s annual Environmental Awards, is presented for practices that demonstrate the business case for environmental stewardship.

NC State Composts: Zero Waste Wolves, a student organization affiliated with NC State Waste Reduction and Recycling, won the 2020 Carolina Recycling Association Annual Award for Organics Diversion for their work to provide composting bags, signage, and outreach to students living on campus.

• The Princeton Review ranked NC State 42nd on its 2018 “Top 50 Green Colleges” list and 17th in 2019.
• Zero Waste Wolfpack, the recycling and composting collection program at NC State home football and soccer games, was named a Green Sports Alliance Environmental Innovator of the Year. The program also won a Carolina Recycling Association Award.
• NC State’s Wolf Pack-N-Give was honored at the City of Raleigh’s 2019 Environmental Awards for diverting reusable goods and recyclable materials from the landfill during student move-out.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. received the 2018 Most Sustainable Chapter Award during the annual NC State Fraternity and Sorority Life Standards of Excellence Awards.
• Staff member Dane Johnston in the College of Veterinary Medicine received a 2018 Governor’s Awards of Excellence in Efficiency and Innovation for recycling old wooden desktops from two classrooms.
• At the 2018 Citizenship, Service, Networking and Partnerships student conference, student Kyra Levau received the Community Impact Award for her efforts to reduce waste on campus.
• Staff member Kerby Smithson earned a 2019 NC State Award for Excellence for his efforts to reduce campus energy consumption.

• Zero Waste Workplace program earned a Carolina Recycling Association Annual Award
• For the seventh consecutive year, NC State was named a Green College by The Princeton Review, ranking 42.
• NC State has a Gold Rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
• The Zero Waste Wolfpack program earned a City of Raleigh Environmental Award and a Carolina Recycling Association Annual Award.
• During the 2017 Appalachian Energy Summit, NC State received a $5,000 summit grant for LEED Lab, a College of Design academic course. In the summit’s student poster competition, NC State student Ashfanoor Kabir won the grand prize in the Ph.D. category and NC State’s Sushant Shetgeri won the grand prize in the graduate project category.
• The Ecological Society of America honored NC State forestry assistant professor Zakiya Holmes Leggett for her efforts to mentor and recruit students from diverse ethnic backgrounds into the field of ecology.

• NC State earned Bicycle-Friendly University (Silver Level) designation
• Greatist.com named NC State one of the 26 Healthiest Colleges in the United States
• Recognized by Princeton Review as a Green College
• Zero Waste Workplace program earns a City of Raleigh Environmental Award
• NC State Extension Professor Emeritus Jean Spooner honored with a City of Raleigh Environmental Award
• Talley Student Union earns Sir Walter Raleigh Award in part for its sustainability features.
• Sir Walter Raleigh Award was also given to the College of Design’s upgrades to a childcare center playground, incorporating design focused on reducing obesity
• NC State Jenkins MBA students win 3rd place in Invest for Impact Case Competition
• NC State undergraduate and graduate student chapters of sustainability club, Net Impact, earn Gold Rating status for excellence in programming and commitment to the organization’s ideals of positive environmental and social impact.
• Campus L.E.A.D. Awards earned by NC State Stewards sustainability leaders and sustainability-related Food Recovery Network
• NC State Stewards win 2nd place in National Association of College Auxiliary Services’ student essay contest about campus waste reduction
• Talley Student Union earns Silver Stewardship Development Award at annual Greater Triangle Stewardship Development Awards.

• NC State received a Gold rating in Sustainability Tracking Assessment, and Reporting System (STARS) 
• NC State received a Gold rating as a Best Workplace for Commuters
• Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Green College
• NC State designated as a Bicycle Friendly University at the Gold level
• The NC State community received the following honors at the 2016 City of Raleigh Environmental Awards:
  • Outstanding Organization Award for NC State Stewards
  • Education Award for NC State Agroecology Education Farm
  • Individual Award for Erin White, who graduated from and taught at NC State
  • Agriculture Award for Advocates for Health in Action to add edible landscaping along a stretch of greenway through campus Top prizes in the Trashion Fashion
    Design Competition for College of Textiles students Jessica Crabtree, Amber Beasley, Jillian Brownell and Ting-Yu Yeh.
• NC State ranked 87th in the Sierra Club’s 2016 Cool Schools sustainability rankings.
• University Housekeeping was recognized nationally as a Silver winner in the Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities competition sponsored by American School & University Magazine, Green Cleaning Network and Healthy Schools
• At number 31, NC State made the 50 Best List of Top College Dining Experiences in part because of its focus on sustainability and nutrition

• Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Green College 
• Carolina Recycling Association’s Outstanding College or University Program Award for Pizza Box Composting Project
• Winds of Change, the journal of the American Indian Society for Engineering and Science, named NC State as a leader in academic programs focused on sustainable energy
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Zeta Sorority and Sigma Chi Fraternity received the Most Sustainable Chapter Awards at the annual NC State Greek Life Awards.
• NC State’s Jenkins MBA program was featured as a leading program making a social and environmental impact and the NC State graduate Net Impact chapter was highlighted as a Gold chapter in Net Impact’s 2014 Business as UNusual Guide.
• NC State University received the 2014 APPA Sustainability Award in recognition of sustainability excellence in campus educational facilities. NC State is the first public university in North Carolina to receive the award from APPA, a professional association of more than 10,000 education facilities professionals from 1,300 educational institutions.
• 2014 Sir Walter RaleighAwards recognized NC State’s student-designed and built Artist’s Backyard for excellence in resource conservation, preservation of Raleigh’s natural features and exemplary design.
• 2015 City of Raleigh Environmental Awards received by the NC State community:
  • Institutional Innovation Award for the university’s interdisciplinary LEED Lab course
  • Green Building Residential Design Award for the NC Cooperative Extension Residential Energy Efficiency Program
  • Environmental Awareness Award for the
  • Sustainable Planning and Urban Sightseers (SPUDS) trip offered by NC State’s EcoVillage Living and Learning Village
  • Youth Award to NC State student Eric Rizzo for his leadership of the NC State Stewards
  • Second place in the public service announcement competition to NC State student Carson Nguyen

• University Housekeeping was recognized nationally as a Silver winner in the Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities
• The 2013 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards recognized a new grade outside of Polk Hall for its student designed heat mitigation system that enables plants to grow despite underground steam pipes
• 2014 City of Raleigh Environmental Awards received by the NC State community:
  • Professor Dr. Bob Patterson, Environmental Awareness Award; student Caroline Hansley, Youth Award; NC Solar Center at NC State, Regional Award.
• NC State Dining was the bronze recipient in the National Association of College and University Food Services’ Sustainability Awards
• Award of Excellence from the Utility Savings Initiative of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Green College and a Top 10 Best Value Public College for 2014 at 4th place.
• Triangle Clean Cities Coalition Stakeholder Excellence Award for petroleum displaced (38,000 gallons)
• Gold Status awards to NC State’s chapter of Net Impact, a national network of 300+ chapters working toward a sustainable future. NC State’s graduate student chapter, based out of the Poole College of Management, is now part of an elite 16 percent of chapters honored with this status.

• NC State receives 2013 Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award 
• NC State University Dining wins Food Service Director’s Grand Goldie Award for its sustainability program, My Roots are at NC State.
• Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Green College
• NC State received Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance

• NC State receives 2014 national APPA Sustainability Award 
• Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Green College
• NC State was honored with Golden Mode awards in Employee Commuting and the Smart Commute Challenge from GoTriangle
• NC State received Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance, including:
  • NC State’s campus took home the 2012 Outstanding Site Improvement Award for the Watauga Club Gateway Project, Outstanding Maintained Appearance Award for J.C. Raulston Arboretum and the Tree and Landscape Conservation Award for Centennial Campus Stream Reclamation Project.
• NC State designated as a Bicycle Friendly University
• NC State won the 2012 Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award, the city’s highest honor for sustainability, plus:
  • James B. Hunt Jr. Library, Green Design (Nonresidential) Award
  • University Dining, Pioneering Efforts Award
  • Artists’ Backyard, Natural Resource Conservation Award
  • Sullivan Shops, Natural Resource Conservation Award
  • Students Wei Wang and Robert Smith, Donna Jackson Trailblazer Award for environmental public service announcement

• NC State received a “B+” from the Sustainable Endowments Institute Green Report Card

• NC State named one of the Southeast’s Top 5 Coolest Schools by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine 
• NC State awarded 2010 SmithSeal of North Carolina Sustainable Business Award by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
• NC State received a “B” on the Sustainable Endowments Institute Green Report Card
• C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

• NC State included in the Peterson’s Review book Green Jobs for New Economy: the Career Guide to Emerging Opportunities.
• NC State received a “C+” from the Sustainable Endowments Institute Green Report Card