Carnegie Foundation

91�� earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

lclarkg — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:27:20 +0000

91�� earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability lclarkg Tue, 09/22/2026 - 10:27

91�� has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, becoming one of the first 14 institutions to receive the new classification for integrating sustainability across the curriculum, research, operations, career preparation, and community engagement.

George Mason is the only institution in Virginia and the only public R1 university on the East Coast to earn the classification. George Mason is also one of three Carnegie Opportunity Colleges in the inaugural group of 10 public and 4 four private universities, which represent 10 states and one U.S. territory.

“This certification is an acknowledgement of George Mason’s leadership and thoughtful integration of sustainability across our academic, research, and operational enterprises,” said Julie Zobel, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “Our holistic approach supports the scholarship, research, and career pathways that prepare our students to tackle the global challenges that will shape tomorrow.”

George Mason participated in the 2025 pilot program, which brought together diverse higher education institutions in a national community of practice to test and shape the classification framework, application, and review criteria. Tom Wood, associate professor of integrative and interdisciplinary studies, led a small team of staff from University Sustainability in completing a rigorous self-study process. The team also helped Carnegie develop critical assessment tools and served as team leaders in the review of other pilot institutions’ applications.

Students and alumni collect on-the-water samples from Gunston Cove for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability is now hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder, working alongside the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. The George Mason team continues to offer support to both entities in an advisory capacity and by reviewing new applications.

“Sustainability has long been an important interdisciplinary endeavor at George Mason,” said Janette Muir, vice provost for academic affairs. “This recognition acknowledges the deep commitment of faculty and staff across the university as they contribute their expertise and diverse perspectives, creating opportunities for students to explore complex challenges and develop solutions. That breadth of engagement is one of the significant ways George Mason stands out as an institution.”

Presidents Park Greenhouse on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The university hosts standout programs and research centers like the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), Virginia Climate Center, Center for Climate Change Communication, and the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, among others.

“These centers and institutes drive research related to solving the grand challenge of creating a sustainable future, serving communities locally, nationally, and worldwide,” said Wood, who serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Carnegie Foundation Sustainability Classification.

George Mason continues to improve operational performance through built environment exemplars like Fuse at Mason Square, the university’s first LEED Platinum-certified building. The university also sees its campuses as Living Labs, encouraging students to test sustainability solutions directly on site.

Student research projects have resulted in key sustainable campus improvements including solar installations, enhancements to the Greenhouse and Gardens, green roofs, stormwater restoration projects, and native plant forests and pollinator habitats. Many of these improvements were made possible by grant programs like the Patriot Green Fund and ISE’s Living Labs grants.

The Patriot Packout's free store redistributes items that might otherwise end up in a landfill after students move out from their residence halls. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason prepares its students to apply sustainable concepts through 17 sustainability-related degree programs, as well as more than 100 sustainability-focused or sustainability-inclusive courses, known as Green Leaf courses within the Mason Core curriculum. More academic opportunities are available through sustainability-focused study abroad programs, Residential Learning Communities, and semester-away courses at SMSC.

“Students who want to learn more about sustainability and pursue careers in related fields have many options and pathways to do so at George Mason, including at Mason Korea,” said Muir.

With support from campus stakeholders, student engagement drives the creation and continuation of sustainability initiatives on campus. Student volunteers support University Sustainability’s Greenhouse and Gardens and Patriot Packout programs and further influence sustainability on campus through capstone projects, internships, and fellowships.

Sustainability-focused student organizations like George Mason’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network collaborate with Mason Dining staff to sort, package, and deliver food to local community and campus partners like the Patriot Pantry.

“One of the most inspiring aspects of sustainability at George Mason is our campus community’s willingness to work collaboratively to improve outcomes,” said Amber Saxton, sustainability program manager in University Sustainability. “Partnerships and working groups like the one we formed to achieve this classification continue to be the key to developing campus-wide systems to address critical needs, institutionalizing change, funding innovative projects, and making sustainability an essential part of campus life.”

Solar panels at the campus greenhouse. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

This year, one such collaborative working group applied for and received a grant of more than $1 million from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to support improved food waste prevention, food rescue, and composting programs on campus.

Through such efforts, George Mason has earned four consecutive Gold ratings in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment. STARS is a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their comprehensive sustainability performance and is offered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

As a pilot institution for the Carnegie Classification for Sustainability, 91�� is once again leading the way.

“The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “We’re proud to recognize their leadership and the many ways they are advancing sustainability across their campuses and communities.”

George Mason will retain the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability for six years, through 2033.

Sustainability at George Mason

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Janette Muir, PhD

George Mason ranks #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally for innovation, according to U.S. News

ckearney — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:18:07 +0000

George Mason ranks #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally for innovation, according to U.S. News ckearney Mon, 09/21/2026 - 15:18

91�� stands out nationally for innovation and cybersecurity, while expanding access to innovative academic programs and opportunities in higher education. According to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2027 released today, George Mason ranks No. 1 in Virginia and among the nation’s top 50 universities for innovation (42nd). The university is also the No. 1 public university in Virginia for upward mobility and earned top 20 national undergraduate rankings in cybersecurity and writing in the disciplines.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In addition, the recently released Washington Monthly’s Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars ranks George Mason No. 1 among public universities in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region for access and top 100 for research (98th).

“George Mason has shown that access and excellence are not competing priorities — they enhance one another,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “We are opening doors to more students while building innovative programs in areas critical to the future of our economy and workforce. These rankings reflect what George Mason delivers every day: an exceptional education that creates opportunities for our students and drives prosperity across Virginia and beyond.”

Driving Innovation

George Mason’s recognition as Virginia’s No. 1 university for innovation comes as the R1 university expands its work in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum research and education. George Mason also ranks 4th in Virginia in U.S. News’ new category of best value for in-state students.

Released Aug. 31, Washington Monthly ranks George Mason No. 1 among public universities in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region for access, and 55th among public universities nationally. The university also ranks 5th in Virginia for affordability, and 68th among public universities nationally for research.

"These rankings reflect George Mason’s commitment to expanding access while providing students with an outstanding academic experience," said Marion Underwood, George Mason's provost and executive vice president. "Our students have the opportunity of a top-tier research university, and they leave prepared to put that education to work. That’s the kind of impact a public university should have."

George Mason has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education (ACE) in the highest tier of Opportunity Colleges and Universities for its combination of Higher Access, Higher Earnings. The designation is reinforced by strong graduate outcomes, with 92% of the class of 2025 reporting a positive career outcome within six months of graduation and a median salary of $73,000.

Highly Ranked for Academic Strength

U.S. News & World Report ranks all eight George Mason undergraduate programs included in this year’s rankings — business, computer science, cybersecurity, economics, engineering (doctorate), nursing, psychology, and writing in the disciplines — among the top 4 in Virginia. Five also rank among the top 50 public universities nationally. George Mason ranks 15th nationally in cybersecurity and 17th nationally in writing in the disciplines — making it the only Virginia university represented in both.

As AI reshapes how people work and communicate, the No. 1 rankings in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region for writing in the disciplines underscore the university’s continued investment in critical thinking and clear communication through major-specific intensive writing courses in the core curriculum, dedicated English and creative writing programs, and student-run outlets like Stillhouse Press that give students real editorial experience before they graduate.

Advancing Open Inquiry

George Mason is also recognized nationally for fostering an environment where students can exchange ideas and engage with different perspectives, ranking 10th nationally and 5th among public universities in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's (FIRE) College Free Speech rankings.

Earlier this year, George Mason was named among the National Academy of Inventors’ top 100 U.S. universities for utility patents.

The full list of George Mason rankings is available on our rankings page.

See more of George Mason in the Rankings

"We are opening doors to more students while building innovative programs in areas critical to the future of our economy and workforce. These rankings reflect what George Mason delivers every day: an exceptional education that creates opportunities for our students and drives prosperity across Virginia and beyond."

~ President Gregory Washington

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Carnegie Foundation

91�� earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

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George Mason ranks #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally for innovation, according to U.S. News

Driving Innovation

Highly Ranked for Academic Strength

Advancing Open Inquiry

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91���� earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

Read More Like This

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In This Story

George Mason ranks #1 in Virginia and Top 50 nationally for innovation, according to U.S. News

Driving Innovation

Highly Ranked for Academic Strength

Advancing Open Inquiry

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91�� earns Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability