Choosing which college to attend can be a stressful experience. There are so many variables: location of the college, where friends have chosen, academic options, and of course, cost. These are just a few of the factors students and parents face when trying to make their selection. Schools are all too aware of this and do everything in their power to appeal to their prospective students.
A new tactic colleges are using to separate themselves from the rest of the pack is selling the green and sustainable aspect of their university campus and operations. In a recent study 
69 percent of schools said they had marketed their sustainability merit to prospective students. This ranged from everyday sustainable practices to energy efficiencies across college campuses. In 2009, only 27 percent of schools reported using sustainability and green as distinguishing features to attract students.
Colleges such as Harvard, Yale, and University of California San Diego which are recognized as sustainability leaders in the collegiate field, promote their sustainability, and others are following.
But it is a two-way street: two thirds of prospective students and their parents say they actively search for schools that have a strong sustainable or green-focused environment.
It’s up to colleges and universities to show that they are green: not only to attract good students, but to show how green the universe can be.