Compare 21 Sustainability Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $42,846. Top programs: $74,682+.
The highest-earning Sustainability Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $56K earnings gap across 21 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Columbia University's Sustainability Studies program leads with graduates earning $74,682, well above the $42,846 average across all programs. Oregon State University follows at $65,133, demonstrating how public institutions compete directly with elite privates in specialized fields.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Columbia graduates borrow $21,500 and face just a 5.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making the premium program genuinely affordable.
Highest program earnings: $74,682
Strong outcomes ($65,133) with 79% acceptance
5.7% payment burden | Excellent
14.7% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $74,682 | 45 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $65,133 | 35 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Manageable |
| #3 | $59,456 | 23 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #4 | $59,089 | 13 | $21,977 | Good | $15,000 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $50,678 | 41 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #6 | $48,875 | 16 | $20,470 | Good | $22,566 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of FloridaPublic | $47,660 | 74 | $15,000 | Good | $18,837 | Challenging |
| #8 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $47,260 | 31 | $23,000 | Manageable | $34,512 | High |
| #9 | Aquinas CollegePrivate | $47,255 | 8 | $23,000 | Manageable | $24,361 | High |
| #10 | $43,090 | 22 | $26,814 | Manageable | $36,545 | High | |
| #11 | $41,600 | 21 | $18,500 | Manageable | $23,123 | High | |
| #12 | $41,445 | 20 | $22,000 | Manageable | $24,693 | High | |
| #13 | Stockton UniversityPublic | $40,488 | 12 | $20,500 | Manageable | $23,182 | High |
| #14 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $39,679 | 23 | $14,340 | Good | $13,923 | Challenging |
| #15 | $35,255 | 61 | $20,500 | Challenging | $26,632 | High | |
| #16 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $35,060 | 35 | $19,500 | Challenging | $25,142 | High |
| #17 | $30,698 | 51 | $17,500 | High | $18,275 | High | |
| #18 | $28,997 | 45 | $16,500 | High | $13,610 | High | |
| #19 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $26,933 | 12 | $22,000 | High | $27,213 | High |
| #20 | Chatham UniversityPrivate | $18,954 | 16 | $23,250 | High | $31,699 | High |
| #21 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $17,470 | 15 | $22,500 | High | $25,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
