Sustainability Studiesat University of Illinois Chicago
Graduates earn $30,548/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Sustainability Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $430K; scenarios range from $414K to $422K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Illinois Chicago
The financial outcomes associated with this program present a challenging landscape that you should carefully consider. Sustainability is a broad, interdisciplinary field, and a generalist undergraduate degree often requires significant further specialization or advanced study to access the higher-paying roles you see listed. These management and planning positions typically demand extensive experience or a graduate degree.
In a competitive urban market like Chicago, entry-level sustainability roles can be scarce or found in non-profit and government sectors with different salary structures. Many initial positions involve research, coordination, or advocacy rather than direct management, demanding a proactive approach to internships and networking. The inherent nature of some foundational tasks within the field also suggests a higher susceptibility to automation. To succeed, you'll need to aggressively pursue practical experience, develop a technical skill set, or plan for graduate-level education to carve out a distinct and valuable niche.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Illinois Chicago's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Sustainability Studies
How University of Illinois Chicago stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Illinois Chicago
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Illinois Chicago, 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 →Frequently asked about Sustainability Studies at University of Illinois Chicago
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sustainability Studies at University of Illinois Chicago?
A score of 26/100 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 $414,336 in decade earnings vs $422,494 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Sustainability Studies from University of Illinois Chicago?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.