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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Health Emerald Award | Practice Green Health | Sacramento/Health | 2025 |
| 2025 Circles of Excellence in Food, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Transportation, and Green Building | Practice Green Health | Sacramento/Health | 2025 |
| #1 Greenest University in the US and #7th Most Sustainable in the world | University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings | Davis | 2024 |
Health Care Without Harm, Health Care Climate Challenge (HCCC) 2023 Gold Climate Resilience Award Silver Climate Leadership Award | Health Care Climate Award | Sacramento/Health | 2024 |
| Practice Green Health Top 25 | Practice Green Health | Sacramento/Health | 2024 |
| Learning by Leading Program: Top honors | UC Davis Arboretum News Website | Davis | 2024 |
| 2024 Resiliency Recognition for Parking Structure 4: Platinum | USRC | Sacramento/Health | 2024 |
| 2024 Greening the OR Recognition Award | Practice Greenhealth | Sacramento/Health | 2024 |
| 2024 Circles of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Water, and Green Building | Practice Greenhealth | Sacramento/Health | 2024 |
| Agriculture & Forestry Ranked: #2 in the world | QS World University Rankings by Subject | Davis | 2024 |
| Veterinary Science Ranked : #2 in the world | QS World University Rankings by Subject | Davis | 2024 |
| #1 Greenest University in the US and #5 in the World | University of Indonesia's GreenMetric World University Rankings | Davis | 2023 |
| #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 |
| Climate Registry Member Index Gold | The Climate Registry | Davis | 2019 |
| Campus Sustainability Research Award for | 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 |
| Climate Registry Member Index Gold | The Climate Registry | Davis | 2018 |
| #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 |