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Sustainability Studies at University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,076/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)

ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs Top 50%

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	$530K	$526K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	11.0x	10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	44	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$48,040

Out-of-state: $104,816 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,828

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,162

29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,076 at University of Northern Colorado come in 14% above the national median of $37,053 for Sustainability Studies programs.

The 11.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #6 out of 22 programs, University of Northern Colorado's Sustainability Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,076 to $54,162 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,693 students in Greeley, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Colorado →

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

Sustainability Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Northern Colorado

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Northern Colorado's Sustainability Studies program score?

This program scores 44/100 — 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 →