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Sustainability Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,678/yr (37% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.3x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 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 $536K $532K $493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.4x 8.3x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.9x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,750
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $50,678 per year, Sustainability Studies graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign significantly outpace the $37,053 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

At 8.3x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $17,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #7 out of 22 programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Sustainability Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 44% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 34,623 students in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

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 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) George Mason University ($39,329)

Other Majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer Science ($124,530) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($113,503) Mathematics and Computer Science ($109,843) Computer Engineering ($103,123) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($86,483) Systems Engineering ($81,785) Nuclear Engineering ($81,134) Mechanical Engineering ($80,187)

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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Sustainability Studies program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 →