Sustainability Studies graduates earn $57,887 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,231 and $77,143. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
Sustainability Studies is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduates typically earn around $57,887 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 263 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 4,382 students complete this program each year, most earning a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$38,242
Median Earnings · 4yr
$57,887
Colleges Offering
263
Graduates / Year
4,382
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,922
How Much Do Sustainability Studies Graduates Earn?
Sustainability Studies graduates earn $57,887 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,231 and $77,143. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $38,242 climbs to $57,887 by year four.
$38,242
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$57,887
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$59,660
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a wide earnings spread across Sustainability Studies graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$37,23125th pct.
$57,887Median
$77,14375th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $57,887 and an estimated $71,688 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
Based on outcomes from 150 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 4,382 students who complete Sustainability Studies programs each year, the majority (47%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
40%47%
Master's47%
Bachelor's40%
Post-Bacc Cert.10%
What Can You Do With a Sustainability Studies Degree?
Sustainability Studies connects to 6 occupations in the job market. Natural Sciences Managers leads at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Active ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingSystems AnalysisReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
Top Colleges for Sustainability Studies
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Sustainability Studies students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Sustainability Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Sustainability Studies is one of 39 specializations within Interdisciplinary Studies. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Sustainability Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Sustainability Studies shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $57,887 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $38,242 at graduation to $57,887 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 29,200 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($37,231) and 75th ($77,143) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
How much do Sustainability Studies graduates earn?
Sustainability Studies graduates earn a national median of $57,887 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,231 and $77,143. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Sustainability Studies degree?
One year after graduation, Sustainability Studies degree holders earn a median of $38,242. That climbs to $57,887 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Sustainability Studies degree?
Sustainability Studies degree holders pursue careers including Natural Sciences Managers, which pays a median of $167,220/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Sustainability Studies program take?
While a bachelor's in this area takes four years, many Sustainability Studies students continue to a master's degree, adding one to two years. Some schools offer accelerated 5-year combined programs.
How many colleges offer Sustainability Studies?
263 colleges and universities in the United States offer Sustainability Studies programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Sustainability Studies degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $57,887 and an average net price of roughly $17,922/yr, a Sustainability Studies degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Sustainability Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Sustainability Studies is a focused concentration within the broader Interdisciplinary Studies field. The Interdisciplinary Studies major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Sustainability Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Sustainability Studies graduates?
Employers hiring Sustainability Studies graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the job outlook for Sustainability Studies graduates?
The job outlook for Sustainability Studies graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.6% job growth over the next 10 years. Environmental Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +4.4%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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