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Sustainability Studies at George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
45
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,329/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs Top 25%

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 $597K $587K $536K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.6x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.7x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 45 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$55,260
Out-of-state: $157,588 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,148
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,670
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,841
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,329 at George Mason University come in 6% above the national median of $37,053 for Sustainability Studies programs.

The 10.6x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,670 debt-to-$39,329 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #5 out of 22 programs, George Mason University's Sustainability Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $39,329 to $62,841 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About George Mason University

George Mason University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 27,083 students in Fairfax, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at George Mason University →

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 George Mason University

Homeland Security ($90,956) Computer Engineering ($87,466) Systems Engineering ($84,942) Computer Science ($84,632) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,175) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,800) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,365) Civil Engineering ($75,822)

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 George Mason University's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 45/100 — 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 does George Mason University rank so high for Sustainability Studies?
The #5 ranking out of 22 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →