For many students, a sustainable university matters more than a high ranking
When asked which type of university they would prefer to enrol in, more than two-thirds of students say they would prefer to study at a sustainable university over a top 500 or top 1,000 ranked institution. Almost half said they would choose sustainability over a top 100 ranked institution.
A third of students feel that applying to a university with strong sustainability outputs would be worth the extra spend, if it cost more.
This data was unveiled in Shaping sustainable futures: Students, universities and green skills, a QS report. Access further insights and innovative strategies to improve your sustainability in the report.
The report also revealed that students are aligning their values for a greener, fairer future with their educational decision-making. 88% of prospective students rate sustainability as moderately, very or extremely important
and 40% of prospective students have actively researched an institution’s environmental sustainability strategy (QS International Student Survey 2024).
A majority of students think sustainability is very or extremely important regardless of discipline, further emphasising sustainability’s importance in the minds of prospective students.
Students expect universities to take the lead when it comes to sustainability in academia, innovation and initiatives
Half of students believe that universities have a responsibility in protecting the environment and 77% say that it’s important that a university takes steps to reduce their environmental impact.
Demonstrable, real-world change is likely to resonate most effectively with students. More than two-thirds of students judge a university’s environmental sustainability through their on-campus initiatives and 62% say universities are responsible for developing sustainable technologies.
For more insights, read Shaping sustainable futures: Students, universities and green skills.
- Understand the importance students place on sustainability
- Learn how sustainability outputs correlate to academic reputation and performance in the QS World University Rankings
- Gain actionable insights on how to improve sustainability performance in your institution
