Niagara University was again recognized for its commitment to sustainability and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility by The Princeton Review®. The education services company features NU among the 511 colleges profiled in the new 2025 edition of its online resource “The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges.” Niagara earned a “Green Rating” of 91 out of a possible 99, and is the only private school from Western New York included on the list.
The Princeton Review chose the colleges for this edition of the Guide based on a survey it conducted in 2023-2024 of administrators at nearly 600 colleges about their institutions' sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. The company also surveyed students attending the colleges about their "green" campus experiences. The school selections were based on more than 25 data points from the surveys, including the availability of transportation alternatives on campus, whether or not the school has a formal committee devoted to advancing sustainability on campus, and the percentage of the college food budget spent on local/organic food.
The centerpiece of Niagara University’s sustainability initiatives is a solar array that provides renewable power to the university. The array, which is expected to generate four megawatts at peak solar capacity, was constructed on 17 acres of vacant land. Niagara’s efforts toward its goal of carbon neutrality have also included planting hundreds of trees on campus; the construction of its LEED Gold-certified, 50,000-square-foot integrated science center; the use of solar panels and live plants on roofs; the installation of four electric car charging stations on campus; and a campuswide conversion to LED lighting, an initiative that decreased electric consumption for lighting by more than 50 percent.
"Our location above the Niagara River makes us uniquely aware of the crucial importance of environmental stewardship and our duty to promote sustainable development,” said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. “Initiatives like our solar array, which reduce our carbon footprint, conserve resources, and promote eco-friendly practices, align with our Catholic and Vincentian mission to protect and preserve our natural resources, while serving as a model for responsible leadership in higher education and instilling in our students a sense of responsibility and awareness that empowers them to lead the charge in their future endeavors.”
"We are delighted to recommend Niagara University to students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a 'green' one," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. “Niagara University, which offers excellent academics, also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its campus programs, policies, and practices.”
More than 25 data points from the survey were analyzed to tally Green Rating scores for the schools on a scale of 60 to 99. Colleges that earned a Green Rating score of 80 or higher were selected for this edition of the Guide. Of the 511 schools selected, 460 are in the U.S., 31 are in Canada, and the remaining 20 schools are in Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Equador, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.