Colorado State Earns Fifth Platinum Sustainability Rating, Ranks Third Globally
Colorado State University has secured a record fifth consecutive Platinum sustainability rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), ranking third globally and second in the United States. The rating reflects systematic decarbonization, including a major solar deal and campuswide efficiency initiatives.
CSU was the first institution to earn STARS Platinum in 2015. Only Cornell University has matched CSU's achievement of five or more Platinum ratings.
"Sustainability has been a core value at Colorado State for 155 years," CSU President Amy Parsons said. "This fifth Platinum rating reflects the work of our faculty, staff, and students, and our new initiatives."
CSU's latest STARS report shows 98% of academic departments offer courses addressing sustainability, totaling 593 courses. Among students, 77% reported learning about sustainability in the classroom in the past year, and 55% said CSU's sustainability reputation influenced their decision to attend.
CSU has installed 52 solar arrays across its campuses, including eight dual-use solar systems that pair energy generation with crop farming, and built or renovated 48 LEED-certified buildings, including 12 with LEED Platinum status.
CSU's Climate Action Plan commits the university to 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040. Electricity and natural gas together account for about two-thirds of CSU's 165,500 metric tons of annual campus emissions, according to the university's FY25 greenhouse gas inventory.
CSU signed a 20-year subscription with Pivot Energy, a renewable energy developer, for a 5.75-megawatt solar project in Weld County. When complete, the project will deliver 11 million kilowatt-hours annually and eliminate nearly 7,400 metric tons of CO2e per year—a 50% boost to CSU's solar portfolio.
"When this project is completed and begins delivering renewable electricity, CSU will be 11 million kilowatt hours a year closer to our 100% renewable electricity goal, at no net cost to the university," Campus Energy Coordinator Stacey Baumgarn said. Construction begins winter 2025–2026, with completion targeted for Q4 2026.
In October 2025, CSU launched the Climate Hub at SPUR to extend the Fort Collins campus's decarbonization expertise into regional planning and policy. The initiative helps communities, businesses, and governments tap into CSU's knowledge to develop practical climate solutions.
Seventy-five percent of CSU employees said their understanding of sustainability increased since joining the university—a sign the culture extends beyond operations to the entire campus community.