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Multi / Interdisciplinary · Sustainability Studies Rank #3 of 22

Sustainability Studiesat Miami University-Hamilton

Graduates earn $37,223/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $602K; scenarios range from $547K to $614K depending on AI disruption.

Hamilton, OH Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
50 AVERAGE
51
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,223
1-year post-graduation
ROI
21.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$602K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Miami University-Hamilton

Miami University-Hamilton's Sustainability Studies program, recognized nationally for its quality, prepares you for a diverse field. As a regional campus, its strength often lies in connecting students with local and regional opportunities across Ohio, from municipal planning and environmental compliance to corporate sustainability roles in manufacturing. Your initial earning potential will reflect this regional market, where many foundational sustainability roles in non-profits, local government, or consulting firms offer steady growth rather than outsized starting salaries, even with a strong program.

Considering the high AI risk associated with some roles in this field, focus your efforts on developing uniquely human skills. Prioritize internships and projects emphasizing stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, community organizing, and complex problem-solving. These experiences build a portfolio proving you can navigate intricate social and environmental challenges that technology alone cannot solve.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$547K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple18.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$602K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple20.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$614K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple21.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Miami University-Hamilton's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Sustainability Studies graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Social scientists and related workers, all other
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$100,340/yr
High
3
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
4
Urban and regional planners
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 3,400 openings/yr
$83,720/yr
Moderate
5
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$80,060/yr
High
6
Postsecondary teachers, all other
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 13,500 openings/yr
$78,490/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Sustainability Studies

How Miami University-Hamilton stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
52
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
16.8x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
42
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
6.9x
ROI
University of Northern Colorado
CO · Public
44
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
10.3x
ROI
Western Washington University
WA · Public
41
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
10.2x
ROI
Also at Miami University-Hamilton

Other top programs at Miami University-Hamilton

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Miami University-Hamilton, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Sustainability Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Sustainability Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Sustainability Studies at Miami University-Hamilton

How does Miami University-Hamilton's Sustainability Studies program score?

This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sustainability Studies graduates.

How vulnerable is Sustainability Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Sustainability Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Miami University-Hamilton rank so high for Sustainability Studies?

The #3 ranking out of 22 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.