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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.  

AwardArticle LinkCampusYear
2024 Resiliency Recognition for Parking Structure 4: PlatinumUSRCSacramento/Health2024
2024 Greening the OR Recognition AwardPractice Greenhealth Sacramento/Health2024
2024 Circles of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Water, and Green BuildingPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2024
Agriculture & Forestry Ranked: #2 in the worldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2024
Veterinary Science Ranked : #2 in the worldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2024
#1 Greenest University in the US and #5 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis 2023
#32 Greenest FleetNAFADavis2023
Sustainability Indicator Ranked: #5 in the nation, #16 in the worldUC Davis News WebsiteDavis2023
Gold Rating in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS)AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS)Davis2023
Best employer for Diversity and WomenForbesDavis2023
QS Sustainability ranking: Ranked #14 in the worldQS World University RankingsDavis2023
Agriculture & Forestry Ranked: #2 in the worldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2023
Environmental Sciences Ranked: #22 in the worldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2023
2023 Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award WinnerPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2023
2023 Greening the OR Recognition AwardPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2023
2022 Circles of Excellence in Food, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Transportation, and Green BuildingPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2023
Cleaning Industry Management Standard Green Building with Honors certificationISSADavis2023
#1 Greenest University in the US and #5 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2022
Gold in Climate Leadership, Silver in Renewable Energy, Silver in Climate ResilienceHealth Care Climate Challenge 2022 Climate ChampionsSacramento/Health2022
Designated Platinum 'Bicycle Friendly University'League of American BicyclistsDavis2022
IPMI Award of MeritIPMIDavis2022
2022 Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award WinnerPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2022
2022 Greening the OR Recognition AwardPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2022
2022 Circles of Excellence in Food, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Transportation, Climate, and Green BuildingPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2022
#13 Greenest FleetNAFADavis2022
NACUFS Sustainability Awards: Procurement Practices - SilverNACUFSDavis2022
Environmental Sciences ranked: #7 in the Nation and #20 in the WorldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2022
Gold Sustainable Development Rating for Environmental Impact and Social ImpactQS World University RankingsDavis2022
Degrees of the Future 2022: Environmental Science & Climate ChangeGizmodoDavis2022
#131 in America's Best Employers for WomenForbesDavis2022
#247 in America's Best Employers for DiversityForbesDavis2022
Ranked 8th in Buildings2022 Sustainable Campus IndexDavis2022
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis2022
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #5 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2021
#20 in Sierra magazine's 2021 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis2021
#35 in America's Best Employers for DiversityForbesDavis2021
#1 in Diversity & Internationalization (Tie)QS USA University RankingsDavis2021
Environmental Sciences ranked: #5 in the Nation and #15 in the WorldQS World University Rankings by SubjectDavis2021
Gold Sustainable Development Rating for Environmental Impact and Equal OpportunitiesQS World University RankingsDavis2021
#4 Greenest FleetNAFADavis2021
#7 in Green Garage ContestNAFADavis2021
Unitrans Electric Bus Program: Federal Transit Administration GrantSacramento Area Council of GovernmentsDavis2021
2021 Environmental Excellence Award WinnerPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2021
APLU Research Response to a Community in Crisis AwardAssociation of Public and Land Grant UniversitiesDavis2021
Ranked 7th in Buildings2021 Sustainable Campus IndexDavis2021
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis2021
Best Workplaces for CommutersBest Workplaces for CommutersSacramento/Health2021
#59 in America's Best Employers for DiversityForbesSacramento/Health2021
#88 in America's Best Employers for WomenForbesSacramento/Health2021
Gold Rating in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS)AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS)Davis2020
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #5 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2020
#18 in Sierra magazine's 2020 Cool Schools survey Sierra ClubDavis2020
#52 in America's Best Employers for DiversityForbesDavis2020
#19 Greenest Fleet The 100 Best FleetsDavis2020
#3 in Green Garage ContestNAFADavis2020
Finalist for Sustainability International Impact AwardPIEoneer AwardsDavis2020
2020 Environmental Excellence Award WinnerPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2020
2020 Emerald AwardPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2020
2020 Greening the OR Recognition AwardPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2020
2020 Circles of Excellence in Food and Green BuildingPractice GreenhealthSacramento/Health2020
Best Workplaces for CommutersBest Workplaces for CommutersSacramento/Health2020
#101 in America's Best Employers for DiversityForbesSacramento/Health2020
UC Davis Health named on "Good Food 100 Restaurants" listGood Food Media NetworkSacramento/Health2020
UC Davis Health named Smart Catch Leader for sustainable seafood procurementJames Beard FoundationSacramento/Health2020
2020 Best Practice Award for Energy DemandCalifornia Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC)Davis2020
Ranked 7th in Buildings, 10th in Energy, and 8th in Investment and Finance2020 Sustainable Campus IndexDavis2020
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2020
Climate Registry Member Index GoldThe Climate Registry Davis2019
Campus Sustainability Research Award forStudy published by Steven Wiryadinata, Josh Morejohn and Kurt Kornbluth (AASHE)Davis2019
UC Davis's Olive & Vine Named The Best Venue for Locally Sourced CateringUnique VenuesDavis2019
2nd Place in 2019 Game Day Recycling Challenge for Waste Minimization, Diversion Rate, Per Capita Recycling, Per Capita Organics Reduction and GHG ReductionGame Day Recycling ChallengeDavis 2019
Certified Bee Campus Bee Campus USADavis2019
Tree Campus USA Arbor Day FoundationDavis2019
UC Davis Health named on "Good Food 100 Restaurants" list Good Food Media NetworkSacramento/Health2019
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2019
Climate Registry Member Index Gold The Climate Registry Davis2018
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2018
#11 in 'Top 50 Green Colleges"Princeton ReviewDavis 2018
Designated Platinum 'Bicycle Friendly  University' and 'Bicycle Friendly Business' League of American BicyclistsDavis2017
UC Davis Arboretum Receives Level IV AccreditationArbNet Arboretum AccreditationDavis2017
#32 in Sierra magazine's 2017 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2017
Top 50 Green Colleges' Princeton ReviewDavis 2017
#1 Greenest University in the U.S. and #3 in the World University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2017
#1 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2016
#8 in Sierra magazine's 2016 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2016
Top 50 Green Colleges' Princeton ReviewDavis 2016
#3 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2015
#2 in Sierra magazine's 2015 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2015
#40 in "Top 50 Green Colleges"Princeton ReviewDavis 2015
#55 in Sierra magazine's 2014 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2014
#4 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2014
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2014
#4 in Sierra magazine's 2013 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2013
#9 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2013
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2013
Named "Greenest of the Green"Living Green MagazineDavis 2013
#1 in Sierra magazine's 2012 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2012
#17 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2012
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2012
Diversion Rate Champion in 2011 Game Day ChallengeGame Day Recycling ChallengeDavis 2012
#11 Greenest University in the WorldUniversity of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University RankingsDavis2011
A- on the College Sustainability Report CardSustainability Report CardDavis 2011
Designated a Gold-level 'Bicycle Friendly University'League of American BicyclistsDavis 2011
Ranked 3rd 'Greenest' Fleet in North AmericaGovernment Green Fleet AwardsDavis 2011
Top 10 Environmental Studies Undergraduate Degree ProgramsFiske Guide to CollegesDavis 2011
#8 in Sierra magazine's 2011 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2011
Named 'Green College' in Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2011
Earned highest rating in Greenopia (4 out of 5 leaves)GreenopiaDavis 2010
Ranked 1st nationally in "U.S. Institutions: Most Prolific in Envrionment/Ecology, 2005-2009"ScienceWatch of Thomson ReutersDavis 2010
#16 in Sierra magazine's 2010 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2010
Named 'Green College'Princeton Review's Guide to Green CollegesDavis 2010
#24 in Sierra magazine's 2009 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2009
University of California named 'Shining Star' in Sierra magazine's 2008 Cool Schools surveySierra ClubDavis 2008
UC Davis Student Farm Awarded Organic CertificationCA Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
annually since 2002
Davis2002