Ringling College of Art and Design scored an 89 out of 99 on the Princeton Review's 2026 Guide to Green Colleges, making it one of only three art schools among 388 institutions recognized nationwide.

The college, located at 2700 North Tamiami Trail, announced the recognition Thursday, July 30. It's the second time Ringling has made the list; the school first appeared in 2024, when it was one of only two art colleges included.

The Princeton Review rates schools on a 60-to-99 scale across three areas: healthy and sustainable campus life, preparation for careers in the green economy, and environmentally responsible policies. Only schools scoring 80 or higher make the cut. Of the 388 schools in the 2026 guide, 322 are in the U.S.

What's on campus

The sustainability features driving Ringling's score are spread across the 60-acre campus. Cunniffe Commons houses 150 solar panels. A 25,000-gallon rainwater cistern feeds a digitally controlled irrigation system and flushes toilets in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center. Every new building is designed with the goal of LEED certification.

The college also runs the Orca, a food-waste system that uses bacteria to break down scraps, and offers electric vehicle charging ports and a recycling program.

Ian Shannon, listed as the college's sustainability officer in the announcement, oversees the program. The Green Ambassadors, a student-run club, handles peer outreach on environmental practices.

Why it matters locally

Ringling enrolls 1,535 degree-seeking students from 53 countries and 44 states. The green infrastructure isn't behind locked doors: solar panels top Cunniffe Commons on the campus that borders North Tamiami Trail, and the cistern-fed irrigation keeps the grounds watered without tapping the municipal supply.

Princeton Review Editor-in-Chief Rob Franek said when the guide was released in October 2025 that 59% of more than 7,000 students surveyed said a college's environmental commitment would affect their decision to apply or attend.

Ringling's 2024 appearance on the list made it one of only two art colleges recognized that year. The jump to three art schools in 2026 suggests the niche is growing, though the Princeton Review has not identified the other two.

The Princeton Review publishes its Green Colleges guide each October during Campus Sustainability Month.