List of smoke-free colleges and universities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of colleges and universities identified as having smoke-free campus policies. They are those institutions of higher learning that have entirely prohibited smoking on campus, including all indoor areas and the majority of outdoor grounds. Campuses that allow smoking only in very remote outdoor areas are marked with an asterisk. The list also includes those institutions that have enacted such policies and whose date of implementation is pending. This list is not exhaustive, and campus policies may change over time.[1][2] The list does not include those schools with designated smoking areas near buildings or walkways.

Smoke-free campus policies are introduced for a variety of health, safety, and environmental reasons, and may form part of wider tobacco-control measures in higher education.[3] Many institutions have expanded their policies to include tobacco-free rules that also restrict smokeless tobacco and, in some cases, electronic nicotine-delivery systems, hookah use, or cannabis smoking and vaping.

The adoption and scope of smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies vary internationally. In some countries, colleges and universities implement these policies voluntarily,[4] while in others they are shaped by provincial, state, or national legislation. Large numbers of campuses in regions such as the United States and Canada have implemented comprehensive smoke-free or tobacco-free rules, with details provided in the regional sections below.[5][6][7]

In some countries, smoke-free campus policies have become a common element of wider tobacco-control measures in higher education. As of 1 July 2025, the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation identified at least 2,581 campus sites in the United States and tribal jurisdictions with 100% smoke-free policies covering all indoor and outdoor areas; of these, 2,166 were also 100% tobacco-free, and many additionally prohibited e-cigarette use, hookah, and smoking or vaping cannabis on campus.[8][9]

A 2022 national status report by the Canadian Cancer Society identified 100 university and college campuses in Canada with 100% smoke-free policies as of 13 August 2022, many of which also explicitly restrict the use of cannabis, hookah and e-cigarettes.[1]

Studies report that the implementation and enforcement of smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policies can vary across institutions, reflecting differences in campus settings and administrative approaches.[10][11]

Smoke-free campus policies are typically introduced as part of institutional or college health, safety, and environmental strategies aimed at reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and limiting tobacco use in campus communities. Public health agencies commonly distinguish between “smoke-free” policies, which prohibit the smoking of combustible products, and “tobacco-free” policies, which also restrict smokeless tobacco and, increasingly, electronic nicotine-delivery systems. Some institutions and jurisdictions additionally include prohibitions on hookah, heated-tobacco products, and the smoking or vaping of cannabis.[12][13]

According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, as of 1 July 2025, there were at least 2,581 U.S. and tribal college and university campus sites with 100% smokefree policies. Of the sites included in those policies, 2,166 were 100% tobacco-free, 2,271 prohibited the use of e-cigarette, 1,226 prohibited the use of hookah, 602 prohibited marijuana smoking or vaping, and 651 also included prohibiting smoking in personal vehicles located on campus in the policy rules.[14]

nternational and national public-health organizations note that the development of campus policies is influenced by factors such as institutional governance, legal requirements, communication strategies, enforcement practices, and the availability of cessation support services. Assessments by agencies including the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have reported substantial variation in the design and implementation of smoke-free and tobacco-free rules across countries, states, and individual institutions.[15][16]

Research on policy effects indicates that comprehensive smoke-free or tobacco-free campus measures are associated with reductions in smoking prevalence, cigarette consumption, and exposure to second-hand smoke among students and staff, although results differ across settings. Several reviews also note that some campuses report increases in electronic-cigarette use following the adoption of smoke-free policies, reflecting changing patterns of nicotine consumption among young adults.[17][18][19]

Studies examining implementation and compliance have identified challenges such as inconsistent enforcement, differences in administrative capacity, and limited awareness of policies among students and staff. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing communication, monitoring, and institutional support in maintaining effective smoke-free or tobacco-free environments.[20][11][17]

Asia

China

According to a study published in 2025, as of 31 December 2024, educational facilities (including universities) across China now operate under comprehensive statutory smoke-free status under subnational laws, even if campus-specific institutional policies aren’t detailed.[21] Some specific educational institutions that operate under a smoke-free policy include:

Hong Kong

Under Hong Kong’s Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), all schools, and specified educational establishments, including universities, post secondary colleges, and technical institutes are classified as non-smoking areas.[22] .Smoking is prohibited in all indoor outdoor and outdoor areas of these institutions, except where an exemption has been specifically provided by law.[23] Guidance issued by the Department of Health outlines the implementation of comprehensive tobacco-control measures in educational settings, including signage, enforcement procedures, and campus-wide communication strategies.[24][25]

Examples of Hong Kong higher-education institutions operating statutory no-smoking campuses include but are not limited to the following:

India

  • JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER)[27]

Indonesia

  • Faculty of Public Health Diponegoro University[28][29]
  • Universitas Airlangga (Surabaya, East Java)[30]

Jordan

  • Jadara University[31]

Macau

Philippines

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

  • Lebanese International University[43]

Africa

A number of universities in Africa have introduced campus-wide smoke-free policies as part of institutional health and environmental initiatives. The following institutions have published formal policies indicating that smoking is prohibited across their campuses:

Algeria

  • University of El Oued (Martyr Hama Lakhdar University of El Oued)[44][45][46]

Egypt

  • Badr University, Cairo (BUC)[47]
  • Heliopolis University [48]
  • Kafrelsheikh University[49]
  • British University, Egypt (BUE)[50]

Ghana

  • University of Cap Coast[51]

South Africa

  • University of Western Cape (South Africa)[52]

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

Europe

Americas

References

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