by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Sustainability Studies explores Sustainability Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Concept Of Sustainability From An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Includes Instruction In Sustainable Development, Environmental Policies, Ethics, Ecology, Landscape Architecture, City And Regional Planning, Economics, Natural Resources, Sociology, And Anthropology. Examples: [Sustainability], [Sustainable Living], [Organizational And Environmental Sustainability], [Sustainability Studies]. Read on to learn the key facts every sustainability studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sustainability studies programs.
Nationwide, sustainability studies is a widely-pursued major, with 4,374 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sustainability Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 226 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sustainability studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sustainability studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Sustainability Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sustainability studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a sustainability studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a sustainability studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sustainability studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 71 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,637 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,573 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 42 |
People currently working in careers related to sustainability studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.8% |
| Master’s degree | 21.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sustainability studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in sustainability studies opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to sustainability studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sustainability studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 287,657 | 10.6% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 159,640 | 3.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of sustainability studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,012 |
| 4 years | $62,144 |
| 5 years | $72,763 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sustainability studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sustainability studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,485 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
With 226 different sustainability studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sustainability studies school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
