Congrats to all of the winning schools. Your students thank you, and if they could, so would the animals whose lives will be spared as a result of your delicious vegan cuisine!

Large U.S. Schools

#1) UCLA

Seen by many as the college epicenter of the animal rights debate, it should come as no surprise that UCLA is also the national leader when it comes to vegan dining. Food-services representatives regularly meet and dine out with members of the student organization Bruins for Animals to solicit feedback on how they can improve dining options. The university offers dozens of vegan entrées, including vegan lasagne, veggie chicken fingers, vegan barbecue beef with roasted vegetables, and vegan chili cheese dogs. Students can end the meal on a sweet note with a vegan cappuccino cookie or choose something wholesome like a Morning Glory Muffin. Indeed, competition for vegan diners in Los Angeles is steep, but with so many delicious and eco-conscious choices available, UCLA students really have no need to leave campus.

#2) New York University

Considering how many exciting opportunities and dining establishments surround NYU's Manhattan campus, keeping students on campus can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the school has managed to stay ahead of the trends by offering delicious and affordable vegan meals that neighboring restaurants are struggling to keep pace with. Designated vegan stations in every dining hall serve up delicious dishes such as vegan grilled barbecue tofu, fettuccine with vegan tomato artichoke Alfredo, vegan sloppy Joes, and vegan white bean and eggplant casserole, keeping students at the largest private university in the U.S. coming back time and time again.

#3) Ohio University

A regular on our list over the past several years, Ohio University just keeps getting better and better! The rural college town of Athens, Ohio, is seriously overflowing with big city-style vegan options, with a strong emphasis on vegan versions of meat-heavy classics. Protein-packed meals such as vegan chicken parmesan, a tofu Reuben sandwich, and Tofurky Italian sausages would satisfy even the most ardent carnivore. Heck, the school even offers veggie "fish" tacos! Those seeking Asian- influenced cuisine will be blown away by the vegan orange chicken with broccoli, vegan teriyaki beef with udon noodles, and veggie moo goo gai pan over rice. Go, Bobcats!

Small U.S. Schools

#1) Northwestern University

Northwestern took the number-one spot in our contest for 2007, and now it's back on top in 2010! Focusing on dishes designed to warm up the cold Chicagoland winters, creative and hearty meals such as vegan seitan tacos, pumpkin chowder, vegetarian barbecue riblet sandwiches, and Thai green curry with tofu, that are guaranteed to keep students happy and healthy.

#2) American University

One of our top schools over the past several years, AU is representing "the District" proudly with vegan options worthy of national praise. Dishes such as Asian tempeh with rice and sweet and sour seitan earn rave reviews from students, but it's really the desserts that put AU head and shoulders above the rest. Beginning this fall semester, students can enjoy vegan raspberry marble cheesecake with chocolate crust, vegan fudge, and vegan chocolate coconut-cream pie, just to name a few of the many options available. Ah, being an AU student—how sweet it is!

#3) Brandeis University

Already viewed as one of the most selective and progressive universities in the U.S., Brandeis now has a new title: vegan paradise. Vegan beef fajitas, soy meatballs with herbed spaghetti, grilled seitan tips, and Southwestern vegan riblets with spicy potato-wedge fries are just a small sampling of this school's immense vegan food catalog. The dining hall's Nature's Balance station is all vegan, and various pre-packaged vegan snacks are available on campus, including vegan candy bars, jerky, and 18 types of Asian-influenced macrobiotic vegan meals.

Click here for the complete list of winners!

Published: Friday, November 19, 2010

  Write to Us

The UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability welcomes your comments.