Lists and Rankings

Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges in the U.S.

Any vegetarian student can find something to eat on a college campus--there will never, ever be a shortage of plain cheese pizza! But you can't live on pizza forever, and what about our vegan friends? These are the schools for them. They were chosen by students in a contest organized annually by peta2, the college arm of PETA. With these delicious menu options, even the most hardcore carnivores might rethink their ways.

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• 1. Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT): The acclaimed liberal arts college, which has a history of social justice activism, lives up to the hype when it comes to vegan options. Some of the creative choices offered include veggie chicken red curry with steamed broccolini and organic jasmine rice, three-mushroom vegan ragu with penne pasta, and barbecue seitan. Following last year's second-place finish, Dining Services officials pulled out all of the stops in 2009, even setting up voting stations around campus to rally support from their well-fed student population. These efforts, combined with the impressive range of vegan options available on campus, have helped secure the title of the Most Vegetarian-Friendly College in America.
• 2. Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH): After a couple of years off our list, Oberlin has come charging back in a big way in 2009, reclaiming its title as one of the epicenters of vegan dining in the Midwest. The rural Ohio college boasts a staggeringly large number of meatless options, from tempeh and wild mushroom fricassee and Ethiopian vegetable stew to seitan pepper steak. Elsewhere on campus, students can chow down on vegan tofu lasagna, vegan barbecue tofu pizza, and much more. Considering that the progressive campus has a reputation for being at least a few years ahead of the curve on social justice issues, the future looks very bright for vegan college students.
• 3. American University (Washington, DC): Holding strong in the Top 10 for the second year in a row, AU came to the table this year with more vegan options than we could ever hope to print here. Tempeh cacciatore, fried buffalo tofu, vegan scallion mashed potatoes, and barbecue seitan are just a few of the delicious dishes that will help keep these politically active Eagles soaring year after year!
• 4. University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA): Moving up a spot on our list from last year, UC Santa Cruz is riding high in 2009. With the school's legendary dedication to sustainability and progressive politics, not to mention an active student group called Banana Slugs for Animals, it should come as no surprise that UC Santa Cruz is a consistent top pick for students seeking delicious meatless meals. Vegan chicken Milanese, kung pao tofu with sesame udon noodles, and almond seitan are just a few of the dozens of vegan entrées that help give students the "green" energy to fuel our country into the future.
• 5. University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): Earlier in the year, members of Students Protecting the Environment and Animals With Knowledge (SPEAK)¿the campus animal rights organization¿petitioned alongside peta2 for additional vegan options on campus. After more than 3,000 students showed their support for the campaign, the group began working with the school's dining services department to introduce some truly remarkable meatless choices. Today, the menu boasts a number of delicious dishes and snacks, ranging from vegan black bean soup and vegetarian sausages to "Three-Alarm" Boca burgers and vegan soft-serve ice cream. Now that's change we can believe in!
• 6. SUNY — Purchase College (Purchase, NY): As the school is known for its emphasis on the visual and performing arts, it should come as no surprise that Purchase offers stunning and visually appealing vegan options that are enjoyed by all students. Some of the many meatless options that grace the menu are veggie bacon, tofu Marsala, and tempeh cacciatore. Bravo!
• 7. University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA): Much like its legendary school hatchet the University of Puget Sound disappeared briefly during last year's contest, but it's back again in 2009¿and it's stronger than ever. Students rave about the "Vegetarian & Co." section of The Diner, but all over campus, students can enjoy delicious entrées, including veggie barbecue riblets on a French roll, sunflower patties with marinara sauce, and Field Roast sloppy Joes. Ahh, it's good to be back, eh?
• 8. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (Champaign, IL): A newcomer to the list this year, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the quality and quantity of vegan options available on campus. Vegan sausage patties, tofu scramble, baked vegetarian chicken strips, and squash ravioli with sage and mushrooms are just a few of the highlights. And don't forget about Field of Greens, the all-vegetarian restaurant that's open on campus every weekday!
• 9. Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Wildcats can warm up on a brisk Illinois winter evening by choosing some of the many piping-hot vegan options available on campus. Choices range from curried tofu with jasmine rice to vegan seitan tacos to garlic orange chili tofu. In fact, the meatless options are so popular that the dining services department reports that between 35 percent and 55 percent of students choose a vegetarian or vegan entrée every night!
• 10. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): Representing the Ivy League on this year's list, Penn packs all the brain food necessary to keep America's best and brightest going. Powered by the active Penn Vegetarian Society, the school offers meatless options that would make fellow vegetarian Ben Franklin proud. Among the many choices are tofu mushroom burritos, sesame quinoa pilaf, and curry tofu with green beans, roasted edamame, and steamed broccoli.

Source: This list is brought to you by peta2, the youth/university chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: www.peta2.com.