Sustainability Studies at SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,409/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #15 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs

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 $433K $439K $422K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.3x 12.5x 12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.7x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 31 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,248
Out-of-state: $76,928 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,332
-114% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,008
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,409/yr, roughly in line with the $37,053 national median for Sustainability Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sustainability Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Sustainability Studies's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,008 represents roughly 7 months of the $32,409 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #15 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs, SUNY Oneonta falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,820 in Oneonta, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Oneonta →

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 SUNY Oneonta

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sustainability Studies at SUNY Oneonta?
A score of 31/100 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 $421,642 in decade earnings vs $433,006 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →