The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) is a commonly used sustainability benchmarking tool for colleges and universities. It assesses campus sustainability efforts in all areas including academics, outreach, operations and administration. Universities earn a rating based on the percentage of points they earn.
South Dakota State University completed its first benchmark report in 2016 earning a Bronze rating. In 2019, SDSU earned a Silver rating. The latest report, submitted in 2023, also earned a Silver rating. This benchmarking tool helps campus plan and prioritize future sustainability efforts on campus.
The 2023 STARS report categories that SDSU excelled in included: outreach and engagement, wellness programs for employees and students, sustainable electronic purchasing, water use reduction and resources for faculty on how to integrate sustainability into curriculum.