It wasn’t so long ago that the Sierra Club released its annual round up of green schools. If you or someone you know is college-shopping at the moment (or has a young person who is), this report offers an excellent overview of the various institutions of higher ed making sustainability a top priority. Based on a voluntary online survey open to all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., the sixth installment of the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools” report takes into account a wide range of eco-factors on campus, including greenhouse gas emissions, green buildings and sustainable foods, as well as green curriculum offerings and degrees.

But while the Sierra Club only hands out grades for green schools once a year, here at EarthTechling, we report on the greening of the American college all year long. Which is why we thought we’d offer a more in-depth look at some of the schools that took top marks in this year’s Cool Schools rankings.