Sustainability Studies: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 16 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Sustainability Studies pays
Career outlook for Sustainability Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations Sustainability Studies graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | 183,400 | +1.8% | $78,490 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | 90,300 | +4.4% | $80,060 | Bachelor's degree |
| Urban and regional planners | 44,700 | +3.4% | $83,720 | Master's degree |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | 40,800 | -1.7% | $100,340 | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | 40,400 | +4.0% | $49,490 | Associate's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Sustainability Studies vs similar majors
How Sustainability Studies stacks up against the closest fields in Interdisciplinary Studies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Sustainability Studies Interdisciplinary Studies · this major | Human Computer Interaction | Systems Science and Theory | Mathematics and Computer Science | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 63 C | 84 A | 90 A | 92 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $68,768 | $122,421 | $110,759 | $93,003 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $48,283 | $76,324 | $69,716 | $56,140 |
| ROI vs cost | +187% | +806% | +710% | +502% |
| Typical debt | $29,787 | $36,897 | $25,199 | $21,409 |
| Colleges offering it | 16 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Sustainability Studies earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Sustainability Studies
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY City College New York, NY | Certificate | $79,726 | — | +2,199% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Associate's | $62,552 | $15,000 | +846% | Strong return |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Associate's | $85,716 | $18,070 | +718% | Strong return |
| 4 | Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI | Associate's | $69,211 | — | +628% | Strong return |
| 5 | Miami University-Hamilton Hamilton, OH | Associate's | $64,054 | $22,370 | +520% | Strong return |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Certificate | $107,142 | $61,500 | +471% | Strong return |
| 7 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | Certificate | $60,597 | $20,036 | +423% | Strong return |
| 8 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Associate's | $62,841 | $24,670 | +298% | Strong return |
| 9 | Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH | Associate's | $64,054 | $22,370 | +194% | Strong return |
| 10 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ | Associate's | $61,946 | — | +171% | Strong return |
| 11 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO | Associate's | $54,162 | — | +158% | Strong return |
| 12 | The New School New York, NY | Certificate | $78,614 | — | +43% | Break-even |
| 13 | Stockton University Galloway, NJ | Associate's | $49,205 | — | +2% | Break-even |
| 14 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL | Certificate | $49,173 | $29,657 | -17% | Poor return |
| 15 | Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO | Associate's | $38,053 | $10,188 | -459% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.