Sustainability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,255/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI
9.7x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)
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 | $449K | $453K | $433K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.6x | 9.7x | 9.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 2.6x | 2.7x | 2.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 33 | 32 | 30 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (2.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,750
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
About The University of Texas at Austin
A 29% acceptance rate puts The University of Texas at Austin in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 42,100 students in Austin, TX.
See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →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
Compare & Explore
Sustainability Studies at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
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
How does The University of Texas at Austin's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Sustainability Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →