Sustainability Studies graduates earn $57,887 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.2%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Natural Sciences Managers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Sustainability Studies as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Sustainability Studies is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $57,887 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 263 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 4,382 students complete it each year, most walking away with 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?
Four years after finishing Sustainability Studies, a typical graduate earns $57,887, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $37,231 and $77,143, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $38,242 at one year out to $57,887 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
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
Not every Sustainability Studies graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. 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 149 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?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Sustainability Studies graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below 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
Not sure where to study Sustainability Studies? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it 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 not the only path through Interdisciplinary Studies: 38 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
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 4 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.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.2% over the next decade, with Natural Sciences Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 27,700 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?
$57,887 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $37,231 and $77,143, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Sustainability Studies degree?
$38,242 in the first year out. That grows to $57,887 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Sustainability Studies degree?
Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Sustainability Studies program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Sustainability Studies students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer Sustainability Studies?
263 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Sustainability Studies degree worth it?
$57,887 median earnings four years out against $17,922 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Sustainability Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Sustainability Studies is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Sustainability Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Sustainability Studies graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Sustainability Studies graduates consistently look for 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. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Sustainability Studies graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.5% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Natural Sciences Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +8.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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.
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