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Multi / Interdisciplinary · Sustainability Studies Rank #10 of 22

Sustainability Studiesat Utah State University

Graduates earn $39,679/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Sustainability Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $476K; scenarios range from $450K to $474K depending on AI disruption.

Logan, UT Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
39 AT RISK
39
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,679
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$476K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Utah State University

Your strong outcomes from Utah State's Sustainability Studies program reflect its robust interdisciplinary approach, particularly valuable in the Intermountain West. The curriculum likely integrates natural sciences with policy and economics, addressing critical regional challenges such as water resource management, public land stewardship, and renewable energy development. This practical focus prepares you for roles in state and federal agencies, environmental consulting firms, or corporate sustainability departments, often in project management or analytical capacities. The university's strong ties to local industries and government entities create valuable recruiting pipelines. To mitigate the listed AI risk, focus on developing high-level strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and complex problem-solving skills that leverage human insight beyond data analysis, making yourself indispensable.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$450K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$476K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple12.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Utah State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Sustainability Studies graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Social scientists and related workers, all other
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$100,340/yr
High
3
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
4
Urban and regional planners
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 3,400 openings/yr
$83,720/yr
Moderate
5
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$80,060/yr
High
6
Postsecondary teachers, all other
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 13,500 openings/yr
$78,490/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Sustainability Studies

How Utah State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
52
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
16.8x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
42
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
6.9x
ROI
University of Northern Colorado
CO · Public
44
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
10.3x
ROI
Western Washington University
WA · Public
41
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
10.2x
ROI
Also at Utah State University

Other top programs at Utah State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah State University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Sustainability Studies at Utah State University

What does a 39/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Sustainability Studies at Utah State University?

At 39/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Sustainability Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Sustainability Studies at Utah State University?

The 44% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.