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Rankings and Awards

UC Davis participates in external ranking and award systems to help guide sustainability efforts and educate staff, faculty, and students on campus progress.  

Award Article Link Campus Year
Climate Registry Member Index Gold The Climate Registry  Davis 2019
Climate Registry Member Index Gold  The Climate Registry  Davis 2018
#32 Greenest Fleet NAFA Davis 2023
Sustainability Indicator Ranked: #5 in the nation, #16 in the world UC Davis News Website Davis 2023
Gold Rating in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS) AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS) Davis 2023
Best employer for Diversity and Women Forbes Davis 2023
QS Sustainability ranking: Ranked #14 in the world QS World University Rankings Davis 2023
Agriculture & Forestry Ranked: #2 in the world QS World University Rankings by Subject Davis 2023
Environmental Sciences Ranked: #22 in the world QS World University Rankings by Subject Davis 2023
2023 Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award Winner Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2023
2023 Greening the OR Recognition Award Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2023
2022 Circles of Excellence in Food, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Transportation, and Green Building Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2023
Cleaning Industry Management Standard Green Building with Honors certification ISSA Davis 2023
#1 Greenest University in the US and #5 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2022
Gold in Climate Leadership, Silver in Renewable Energy, Silver in Climate Resilience Health Care Climate Challenge 2022 Climate Champions Sacramento/Health 2022
Designated Platinum 'Bicycle Friendly University' League of American Bicyclists Davis 2022
IPMI Award of Merit IPMI Davis 2022
2022 Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award Winner Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2022
2022 Greening the OR Recognition Award

Practice Greenhealth

Sacramento/Health 2022
2022 Circles of Excellence in Food, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Transportation, Climate, and Green Building Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2022
#13 Greenest Fleet NAFA Davis 2022
NACUFS Sustainability Awards: Procurement Practices - Silver NACUFS Davis 2022
Environmental Sciences ranked: #7 in the Nation and #20 in the World QS World University Rankings by Subject Davis 2022
Gold Sustainable Development Rating for Environmental Impact and Social Impact QS World University Rankings Davis 2022
Degrees of the Future 2022: Environmental Science & Climate Change Gizmodo Davis 2022
#131 in America's Best Employers for Women Forbes Davis 2022
#247 in America's Best Employers for Diversity Forbes Davis 2022
Ranked 8th in Buildings 2022 Sustainable Campus Index Davis 2022
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis 2022
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #5 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2021
#20 in Sierra magazine's 2021 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis 2021
#35 in America's Best Employers for Diversity Forbes Davis 2021
#1 in Diversity & Internationalization (Tie) QS USA University Rankings Davis 2021
Environmental Sciences ranked: #5 in the Nation and #15 in the World QS World University Rankings by Subject Davis 2021
Gold Sustainable Development Rating for Environmental Impact and Equal Opportunities QS World University Rankings Davis 2021
#4 Greenest Fleet NAFA Davis 2021
#7 in Green Garage Contest NAFA Davis 2021
Unitrans Electric Bus Program: Federal Transit Administration Grant Sacramento Area Council of Governments Davis 2021
2021 Environmental Excellence Award Winner Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2021
APLU Research Response to a Community in Crisis Award Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Davis 2021
Ranked 7th in Buildings 2021 Sustainable Campus Index Davis 2021
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis 2021
Best Workplaces for Commuters Best Workplaces for Commuters Sacramento/Health 2021
#59 in America's Best Employers for Diversity Forbes Sacramento/Health 2021
#88 in America's Best Employers for Women Forbes Sacramento/Health 2021
Gold Rating in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS) AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS) Davis 2020
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #5 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2020
#18 in Sierra magazine's 2020 Cool Schools survey  Sierra Club Davis 2020
#52 in America's Best Employers for Diversity Forbes Davis 2020
#19 Greenest Fleet  The 100 Best Fleets Davis 2020
#3 in Green Garage Contest NAFA Davis 2020
Finalist for Sustainability International Impact Award PIEoneer Awards Davis 2020
2020 Environmental Excellence Award Winner Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2020
2020 Emerald Award Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2020
2020 Greening the OR Recognition Award Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2020
2020 Circles of Excellence in Food and Green Building Practice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health 2020
Best Workplaces for Commuters Best Workplaces for Commuters Sacramento/Health 2020
#101 in America's Best Employers for Diversity Forbes Sacramento/Health 2020
UC Davis Health named on "Good Food 100 Restaurants" list Good Food Media Network Sacramento/Health 2020
UC Davis Health named Smart Catch Leader for sustainable seafood procurement James Beard Foundation Sacramento/Health 2020
2020 Best Practice Award for Energy Demand California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) Davis 2020
Ranked 7th in Buildings, 10th in Energy, and 8th in Investment and Finance 2020 Sustainable Campus Index Davis 2020
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2020
Campus Sustainability Research Award for
"Pathways to carbon-neutral energy systems"
Study published by Steven Wiryadinata, Josh Morejohn and Kurt Kornbluth (AASHE) Davis 2019
UC Davis's Olive & Vine Named The Best Venue for Locally Sourced Catering Unique Venues Davis 2019
2nd Place in 2019 Game Day Recycling Challenge for Waste Minimization, Diversion Rate, Per Capita Recycling, Per Capita Organics Reduction and GHG Reduction Game Day Recycling Challenge Davis  2019
Certified Bee Campus  Bee Campus USA Davis 2019
Tree Campus USA  Arbor Day Foundation Davis 2019
UC Davis Health named on "Good Food 100 Restaurants" list  Good Food Media Network Sacramento/Health 2019
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2019
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2018
#11 in 'Top 50 Green Colleges" Princeton Review Davis  2018
Designated Platinum 'Bicycle Friendly  University' and 'Bicycle Friendly Business'  League of American Bicyclists Davis 2017
UC Davis Arboretum Receives Level IV Accreditation ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Davis 2017
#32 in Sierra magazine's 2017 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2017
Top 50 Green Colleges'  Princeton Review Davis  2017
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the World  University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2017
#1 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2016
#8 in Sierra magazine's 2016 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2016
Top 50 Green Colleges'  Princeton Review Davis  2016
#3 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2015
#2 in Sierra magazine's 2015 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2015
#40 in "Top 50 Green Colleges" Princeton Review Davis  2015
#55 in Sierra magazine's 2014 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2014
#4 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2014
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2014
#4 in Sierra magazine's 2013 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2013
#9 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2013
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2013
Named "Greenest of the Green" Living Green Magazine Davis  2013
#1 in Sierra magazine's 2012 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2012
#17 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2012
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2012
Diversion Rate Champion in 2011 Game Day Challenge Game Day Recycling Challenge Davis  2012
#11 Greenest University in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings Davis 2011
A- on the College Sustainability Report Card Sustainability Report Card Davis  2011
Designated a Gold-level 'Bicycle Friendly University' League of American Bicyclists Davis  2011
Ranked 3rd 'Greenest' Fleet in North America Government Green Fleet Awards Davis  2011
Top 10 Environmental Studies Undergraduate Degree Programs Fiske Guide to Colleges Davis  2011
#8 in Sierra magazine's 2011 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2011
Named 'Green College' in  Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2011
Earned highest rating in Greenopia (4 out of 5 leaves) Greenopia Davis  2010
Ranked 1st nationally in "U.S. Institutions: Most Prolific in Envrionment/Ecology, 2005-2009" ScienceWatch of Thomson Reuters Davis  2010
#16 in Sierra magazine's 2010 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2010
Named 'Green College' Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges Davis  2010
#24 in Sierra magazine's 2009 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2009
University of California named 'Shining Star' in Sierra magazine's 2008 Cool Schools survey Sierra Club Davis  2008
UC Davis Student Farm Awarded Organic Certification CA Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
annually since 2002
Davis 2002