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Sustainability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,255/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 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 $449K $453K $433K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.6x 9.7x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.6x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 32 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)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (2.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,712
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,750
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $35,255/yr, Sustainability Studies graduates from The University of Texas at Austin land near the $37,053 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 9.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,750 debt-to-$35,255 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #14 out of 22 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's financial outcomes for Sustainability Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About The University of Texas at Austin

A 29% acceptance rate puts The University of Texas at Austin in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 42,100 students in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($111,587) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($96,997) Business/Commerce, General ($94,041) Chemical Engineering ($87,365) Petroleum Engineering ($86,761) Management Information Systems and Services ($86,622) Mechanical Engineering ($82,227) Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,844)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Sustainability Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does The University of Texas at Austin's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 32/100 — 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 →