AASHE STARS: Sustainability Framework
AASHE’s STARS reporting framework is widely considered one of the most authoritative and comprehensive sustainability scoring frameworks in higher education. Princeton Review and other rating agencies use it as the basis for an institution’s sustainability or green school ranking. The framework offers five rankings – reporter, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. George Mason is among the six institutions in Virginia and 180 nationally who have earned Gold, and has maintained its STARS Gold status since 2014 when it became the first university in Virginia to earn that distinction.
STARS 2024: Mason Among Top of vA Peers
George Mason’s University Sustainability (US) led its STARS 2024 reporting efforts. For the 2024 submission, George Mason maintained AASHE STARS Gold status under version 2.2 while improving its score by 13%. The increase from 65.15 points in 2021 to 73.66 points in 2024 placed George Mason second among Virginia institutions.
STARS 2027: Maintaining gold with version 3.0
In 2025, AASHE released a significant update to their reporting framework: STARS version 3.0. This version change constituted a comprehensive overhaul, not only transforming each STARS category but the methodology and data requirements for credits within those categories. Institutions that maintain the status quo are expected to receive fewer points under STARS v3.0 stemming from changes to scoring criteria. George Mason is preparing for the STARS 2027 reporting cycle under version 3.0 by pursuing a mixture of academic, engagement and policy integrations, along with operational performance and stakeholder data improvements. George Mason strives to continue achieving Gold status as a reflection of its continued sustainability leadership.