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Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,445/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.2x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #13 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sustainability Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $484K $485K $457K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.2x 8.2x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.0x 5.0x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,064
Out-of-state: $96,504 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,636
4% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,445 at Montclair State University come in 12% above the national median of $37,053 for Sustainability Studies programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.2x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Sustainability Studies's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #13 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs, Montclair State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Montclair State University

Montclair State University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 17,677 students in Montclair, NJ. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Montclair State University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 22 schools offering Sustainability Studies →

Sustainability Studies at Other Schools

University of Wisconsin-Platteville ($59,089) Columbia University in the City of New York ($53,957) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($50,678) University of New Hampshire-Main Campus ($43,090) University of Northern Colorado ($42,076) Western Washington University ($41,600) Utah State University ($39,679) George Mason University ($39,329)

Other Majors at Montclair State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($104,219) Accounting and Related Services ($56,917) Chemistry ($55,389) Mathematics ($50,810) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($47,487) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($46,739) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($46,343) Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences ($43,985)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Sustainability Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sustainability Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Sustainability Studies careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $457,114 in decade earnings vs $484,057 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →