Sustainability Studies at Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,734/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 41.5x earnings multiple (8.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 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 $443K $448K $429K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 41.1x 41.5x 39.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.9x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 37 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$10,800
Out-of-state: $50,160 (8.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,368
-135% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,188
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,053
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,734/yr, roughly in line with the $37,053 national median for Sustainability Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 41.5x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $31,734 far exceeding the $10,188 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #11 out of 22 programs, Colorado Mountain College's Sustainability Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $31,734 to $38,053 over five years (20% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Colorado Mountain College

with a smaller student body of 2,821 in Glenwood Springs, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado Mountain College →

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 Colorado Mountain College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Colorado Mountain College's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 37/100 — 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 →