Recent Headlines
Bray Hall meadow
SUNY ESF Earns STARS Platinum Again, Secures No. 1 Rankings in Curriculum and Investment
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sept. 22, 2026 – The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) has again earned the coveted Platinum rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), while securing top national and global rankings in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI).
Recognized as an Overall Top Performer among higher education institutions worldwide, ESF earned No. 1 rankings in both Curriculum and Investment among institutions reporting under STARS Version 3.0. The College also ranked No. 2 for Buildings & Grounds, No. 2 for Campus Engagement, No. 5 for Procurement & Waste, and No. 3 overall among doctoral and research institutions.
The annual SCI highlights top-performing colleges and universities from around the world based on data reported through STARS, the leading framework for measuring and advancing sustainability in higher education. The index recognizes institutions demonstrating exceptional performance across academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.
ESF's overall score earned the institution Platinum status, placing it among the highest-performing colleges and universities in the world for sustainability. The recognition reflects the College's comprehensive approach to sustainability, integrating environmental stewardship through teaching, research, campus operations, investment practices, and community engagement.
“At ESF, sustainability is not an initiative. It is the foundation of who we are,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “ESF is proud to be at the top of the Sustainable Campus Index, leading higher education institutions from around the world. These STARS rankings reflect the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff, who demonstrate every day what is possible when sustainability is embedded throughout education, research, campus operations, and public service.”
Mahoney also praised SUNY's leadership in sustainability, noting that campuses across the system earned strong STARS ratings, including Gold designations for the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, University at Albany, SUNY New Paltz, and SUNY Oswego, and Silver ratings for SUNY Brockport, Farmingdale State College, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Cortland, Purchase College, and Stony Brook University. She highlighted the system's collaborative approach to sustainability and student success, including ESF's participation in the SUNY food pantry network through Beth's Bounty, which helps address food insecurity while supporting student well-being.
ESF's performance in the 2026 rankings underscores its longstanding leadership in higher education sustainability. The College's No. 1 ranking for Curriculum reflects the depth of sustainability-focused learning opportunities available to students, while its No. 1 ranking for Investment highlights ESF's commitment to aligning institutional resources with environmental and social responsibility goals. Strong performances in Buildings & Grounds, Campus Engagement, and Procurement & Waste further demonstrate an institution-wide commitment to sustainable practices and measurable impact.
The SCI is produced annually by AASHE and showcases institutions driving innovation and measurable impact across 13 sustainability categories. The 2026 report includes colleges and universities from around the globe and serves as a benchmark for excellence in sustainability performance and leadership.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF’s mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to Improve Our World. ESF’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF’s tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and has a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction. To learn more, visit suny.edu.