The Princeton Review has released its 2026 list of Green Colleges, and Ringling College has again been recognized for its extensive sustainability efforts. The College, which received an overall “Green rating” of 89, was one of only three art schools included among the 388-school list. Ringling College also appeared on the list in 2024.
The Princeton Review’s methodology for the list factors in the health and sustainability of campus life, how well students are prepared to live “in an increasingly green economy,” and how environmentally responsible the school’s policies are. Among other factors, the College was recognized for utilizing Sustainability Officer Ian Shannon and for hosting the Green Ambassadors student club.
Ringling College has built an extensive sustainability program focused on preserving energy, minimizing water usage, and reducing waste. Every new building on campus is designed with the goal of becoming LEED certified, and efforts are increasingly being made to incorporate solar energy, with Cunniffe Commons alone housing 150 solar panels. The Facilities and Ground Maintenance departments designed a low-maintenance landscape and installed an digitally controlled irrigation system that utilizes water from a 25,000-gallon rainwater storage cistern. The non-potable water from that cistern is also used to flush the toilets in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center.
Other green projects include an extensive recycling program, electric vehicle charging ports, and the Orca, which utilizes bacteria to break down food waste.
