U.S. median for this major: $59,660.
College Scorecard field of study; 21 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 21% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,045.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $89,472. College Scorecard.
Columbia University in the City of New York Sustainability Studies: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Sustainability Studies nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Columbia University in the City of New York's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $4,570 | $19,148 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $2,275 | $9,532 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $5,866 | $24,579 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $11,782 | $49,367 | 1.0 years |
| $110k+ | $50,621 | $212,102 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (80% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Sustainability Studies graduates 4 years after graduating ($85,545) minus $34,633 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $50,912 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Sustainability Studies at New York colleges
Every New York college we cover that reports Sustainability Studies graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $85,545 | $18,070 | $21,590 | 96% |
| 2 | SUNY Oneonta | $55,148 | $20,510 | $19,158 | 69% |
| 3 | Hofstra University | $43,733 | — | $34,176 | 69% |
12 more New York colleges offer Sustainability Studies but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Sustainability Studies graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Columbia University in the City of New York, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbia University in the City of New York
- Acceptance rate: 4% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 96% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $102,491
- Full cost breakdown · all 67 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbia University in the City of New York
- Data Science—
Columbia University in the City of New York Sustainability Studies questions
How much do Columbia University in the City of New York Sustainability Studies graduates earn?
Sustainability Studies graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median $85,545 four years after graduating and $53,957 one year after. The U.S. median for Sustainability Studies graduates across 17 colleges is $59,660.
How much debt do Columbia University in the City of New York Sustainability Studies graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sustainability Studies graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York is $18,070, about 21% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,045.
Is Columbia University in the City of New York a good school for Sustainability Studies in New York?
On pay, Sustainability Studies graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York earn $85,545 four years out, $30,397 above the median for the same major across 3 New York colleges ($55,148) and $25,885 above the U.S. median ($59,660). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Columbia University in the City of New York rank for Sustainability Studies in New York?
Of 3 New York colleges reporting Sustainability Studies graduate earnings, Columbia University in the City of New York ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Sustainability Studies graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $180,460 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area and $167,220 nationally. Others include environmental scientists and specialists, including health and conservation scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Columbia University in the City of New York Sustainability Studies: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/majors/sustainability-studies (College Scorecard and BLS data).