STARS Platinum rating

1. Review the STARS Technical Manual: Download the current STARS Technical Manual from AASHE's website to understand all credit categories, point values, and documentation requirements for Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning & Administration, and Innovation & Leadership.

1. Purchase a STARS Subscription: Institutions must hold an active AASHE STARS subscription to submit a scored report. Subscription fees are tiered by institution type and size. AASHE members receive a discount.

1. Assemble a Cross-Campus Team: Identify data owners across departments — facilities, academics, finance, student affairs, and procurement — who can gather the required information for each credit category.

1. Conduct a Credit Gap Analysis: Use the STARS Credit Checklist to assess which credits your institution can realistically pursue and which require additional capacity or programs to achieve the Platinum threshold (85+ points out of 100).

1. Collect and Document Data in the Reporting Tool: Log into the STARS online Reporting Tool and systematically document evidence for each pursued credit. Multiple users can be granted access to collaborate on data entry.

1. Obtain an Executive Cover Letter: Secure a signed cover letter from a high-ranking institutional executive (e.g., President, Provost, or VP of Sustainability) — this is required for all scored submissions.

1. Submit Your Scored Report: Submit your completed report through the Reporting Tool. AASHE staff will review it for accuracy and adherence to credit criteria, targeting a 30-day turnaround.

1. Address Review Feedback and Receive Your Rating: Respond to any issues identified by AASHE staff within 60 days (or before your subscription expires). Once all issues are resolved, your report is published and the Platinum rating is awarded.

STARS evaluates institutions across five major categories, with points allocated based on performance relative to credit criteria. To achieve Platinum, an institution must earn 85 or more points out of a possible 100.

Academics (AC) covers Curriculum and Research. Credits assess the breadth and depth of sustainability-focused and sustainability-inclusive courses, the number of academic programs with sustainability learning outcomes, and the volume and funding of sustainability research. This category rewards institutions that have embedded sustainability into their core academic mission.

Engagement (EN) covers Campus Engagement and Public Engagement. Credits evaluate student sustainability programs, co-curricular activities, sustainability literacy assessments, and outreach to the broader community. Institutions are assessed on how actively they involve students, staff, and the public in sustainability efforts.

Operations (OP) is the most expansive category, covering Buildings & Grounds, Energy & Climate, Food & Dining, Procurement & Waste, and Transportation. Credits assess building energy performance, renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, sustainable food purchasing, waste diversion rates, and sustainable transportation options. This category typically carries the most weight in the overall score.

Planning & Administration (PA) covers Coordination & Planning, Investment, and Social Equity, Wellbeing & Work. Credits evaluate the presence of a sustainability strategic plan, diversity and equity initiatives, living wage policies, investment screening, and the structure of sustainability governance on campus.

Innovation & Leadership (IL) is a bonus category that allows institutions to earn additional points for exemplary, innovative, or replicable sustainability initiatives that go beyond standard credit criteria. These credits are self-nominated and reviewed by AASHE staff.

STARS is the dominant sustainability rating system for higher education globally, with over 900 participating institutions across more than 30 countries, the vast majority in North America. It was developed specifically for colleges and universities and has no direct competitor that matches its comprehensiveness or adoption in this sector. Alternatives like the Princeton Review Green Rating or UI GreenMetric exist but are rankings rather than self-reported, institution-controlled frameworks, making STARS the preferred tool for institutions that want to drive internal improvement rather than simply be ranked.

The Platinum rating is the rarest tier — only a small fraction of participating institutions achieve it, typically fewer than 5% of all STARS participants at any given time. This exclusivity makes it a meaningful signal of genuine sustainability leadership. Prominent holders have included Stanford University, Arizona State University, and the University of British Columbia, lending the rating significant reputational weight. Institutions at the Gold level often use Platinum as a long-term aspirational target.

Demand for STARS participation has grown steadily since 2009, driven by increasing student and faculty expectations around institutional sustainability commitments, ESG reporting trends, and the growing role of sustainability in university rankings and accreditation. AASHE periodically updates the STARS framework (currently on version 3.x), which keeps the system current with evolving sustainability science and practice. The shift toward more rigorous social equity and wellbeing credits in recent versions reflects broader ESG trends and has required institutions to expand their sustainability programs beyond traditional environmental metrics.

STARS was developed by AASHE and launched in pilot form in 2007, with the full public release occurring in 2009. It was created in response to a clear gap: while sustainability was becoming a priority on campuses, there was no standardized, comprehensive framework for higher education institutions to measure, compare, and publicly report their sustainability performance. AASHE convened working groups of sustainability professionals, faculty, and administrators to design the credit structure, ensuring it reflected the full scope of campus sustainability — from curriculum to operations to governance.

Since its launch, STARS has undergone several major version updates. Version 2.0 (released in 2014) significantly restructured the credit categories and introduced more rigorous performance thresholds. Subsequent versions have expanded coverage of social equity, wellbeing, and climate resilience, reflecting the evolution of sustainability practice in higher education. By the early 2020s, STARS had grown to over 900 participating institutions worldwide, establishing itself as the de facto standard for campus sustainability assessment. AASHE also introduced the STARS Benchmarking Tool, allowing institutions to compare their performance against peers, further embedding STARS into the institutional planning and reporting ecosystem.