Compare 25 Sustainability Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $50,176. Top programs: $85,545+.
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 | $85,545 | 44 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $73,238 | 15 | $21,977 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | |
| #3 | $70,793 | 22 | $18,500 | Excellent | $23,123 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $63,604 | 58 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $62,388 | 34 | $26,814 | Good | $36,545 | Challenging | |
| #6 | University Of FloridaPublic | $61,281 | 100 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Manageable |
| #7 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $61,216 | 47 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Manageable |
| #8 | Aquinas CollegePrivate | $60,285 | 6 | $23,000 | Good | $24,361 | Challenging |
| #9 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $59,660 | 48 | $23,000 | Good | $34,512 | Challenging |
| #10 | Stockton UniversityPublic | $59,472 | 9 | $20,500 | Excellent | $23,182 | Manageable |
| #11 | $59,456 | 10 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #12 | $58,463 | 33 | $17,500 | Excellent | $18,275 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $54,430 | 77 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $52,293 | 36 | $9,000 | Excellent | $13,893 | Good | |
| #15 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $43,733 | 7 | $23,621 | Manageable | $56,149 | High |
| #16 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $41,979 | 6 | $22,500 | Manageable | $25,000 | High |
| #17 | $41,445 | 14 | $22,000 | Manageable | $24,693 | High | |
| #18 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $39,679 | 25 | $14,340 | Good | $13,923 | Challenging |
| #19 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $39,009 | 55 | $21,221 | Manageable | $28,923 | High |
| #20 | $30,771 | 21 | $20,470 | High | $22,566 | High | |
| #21 | $30,548 | 21 | $16,704 | High | $24,323 | High | |
| #22 | University Of UtahPublic | $30,229 | 80 | $19,000 | High | $18,886 | High |
| #23 | $28,997 | 68 | $16,500 | High | $13,610 | High | |
| #24 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $26,933 | 7 | $22,000 | High | $27,213 | High |
| #25 | Chatham UniversityPrivate | $18,954 | 24 | $23,250 | High | $31,699 | 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 →
