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Sustainability Studies at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,698/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 7.6x earnings multiple (2.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #19 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 $423K $430K $415K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.5x 7.6x 7.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.4x 2.4x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (2.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,333
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,698/yr fall 17% below the $37,053 national median for Sustainability Studies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

At 7.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,333 debt-to-$30,698 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #19 out of 22 programs, University of California-Riverside's financial outcomes for Sustainability Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 22,644 students in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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) Montclair State University ($41,445) Utah State University ($39,679)

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

Computer Science ($81,034) Information Science/Studies ($76,090) Chemical Engineering ($68,245) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($66,430) Computer Engineering ($65,049) Mechanical Engineering ($62,554) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($61,342) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($59,309)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Sustainability Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Riverside's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 27/100 — 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.
Why are Sustainability Studies earnings lower at University of California-Riverside?
Lower starting pay at University of California-Riverside may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →