Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
ProgramsMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies
Sustainability Studies
CIP30.33
150 colleges offer Sustainability Studies. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 150
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $59,660
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,000
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 51
- Associate's
- 18
- Bachelor's
- 150
- Master's
- 103
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 17
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 59
What it covers
About Sustainability Studies
A program that focuses on the concept of sustainability from an interdisciplinary perspective. Includes instruction in sustainable development, environmental policies, ethics, ecology, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, economics, natural resources, sociology, and anthropology.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 30.33.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 51 | $59,4174 yrs after · 4 colleges | $22,2503 colleges |
| Associate's | 18 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 150 | $59,6604 yrs after · 17 colleges | $20,00027 colleges |
| Master's | 103 | $79,1634 yrs after · 11 colleges | $41,00013 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 17 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 59 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Sustainability Studies graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$85,545
debt $27,000
- 2
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI · Public · 11 graduates
$73,238
debt not reported
- 3
Bellingham, WA · Public · 56 graduates
$70,793
debt $17,212
- 4
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · 69 graduates
$63,604
debt $16,533
- 5
Durham, NH · Public · 31 graduates
$62,388
debt $27,000
- 6
Gainesville, FL · Public · 93 graduates
$61,281
debt $11,875
- 7
Fairfax, VA · Public · 34 graduates
$61,216
debt $17,375
- 8
Galloway, NJ · Public · 11 graduates
$59,472
debt not reported
- 9
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public · 25 graduates
$58,463
debt $21,500
- 10
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 88 graduates
$54,430
debt $15,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Sustainability Studies by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Science
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $101,110
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
Science
Transportation Planners
- Median pay
- $101,110
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
Education
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $94,980
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
Science
Urban and Regional Planners
- Median pay
- $89,320
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Science
Climate Change Policy Analysts
- Median pay
- $82,220
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
More in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Sustainability Studies
How many colleges offer Sustainability Studies?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Sustainability Studies at these degree levels: certificate (51 colleges), associate's (18 colleges), bachelor's (150 colleges), master's (103 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (17 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (59 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Sustainability Studies graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Sustainability Studies earn $59,660 a year four years after finishing, across 17 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Sustainability Studies graduates earn the most?
Columbia University in the City of New York reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Sustainability Studies: $85,545 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.