In the years leading up to and after the United States signed the Paris Climate Agreement, universities across the United States have made significant efforts to reduce their emissions. These initiatives include renewable energy sources, green building renovations, and electric transportation. Reducing university emissions depends on physical factors, such as the total energy consumed by a university across its operational sectors. However, without sufficient action addressing the drivers of high emissions levels, significant change cannot be achieved through physical measures alone. This study examines three approaches used by universities across the U.S. to lower emissions: university operational changes, educational approaches to sustainability, and institutional governance. This research examines UMass Amherst's emissions relative to those of its peer universities using regression analysis, coupled with a regression analysis of external factors, particularly in the county surrounding the university, which has not been examined before. This study determines the full extent to which internal and external factors influence university emissions, specifically investigating whether university-employed sustainability initiatives or external variables correlate with lower emissions. The findings of this study can have major implications for resource allocation within university programs and the public sector. By determining whether internal university-driven efforts or external factors are the leading influence on higher emissions, any disparities preventing proper efforts to reduce carbon emissions within each sector can be identified. This identification is crucial for addressing existing financial and educational gaps, which often create barriers to successful climate action.