U.S. median for this major: $59,660.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 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 27% 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 $30,359. College Scorecard.
Western Washington University Sustainability Studies: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Washington colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Western Washington University'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 | $12,915 | $57,213 | 1.9 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $24,301 | $107,653 | 3.5 years |
| $110k+ | $27,984 | $123,969 | 4.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($70,793) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $30,574 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.
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 Western Washington University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,569
- Full cost breakdown · all 97 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Washington University
- Geography and Environmental Studies—
- Marine Sciences—
- Biological and Physical Sciences—
- Data Science—
Western Washington University Sustainability Studies questions
How much do Western Washington University Sustainability Studies graduates earn?
Sustainability Studies graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $70,793 four years after graduating and $41,600 one year after. The U.S. median for Sustainability Studies graduates across 17 colleges is $59,660.
How much debt do Western Washington University Sustainability Studies graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sustainability Studies graduates of Western Washington University is $19,086, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,045.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Sustainability Studies in Washington?
Of 1 Washington colleges reporting Sustainability Studies graduate earnings, Western Washington University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Sustainability Studies graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $134,220 in the Bellingham, WA 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: “Western Washington University Sustainability Studies: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/sustainability-studies (College Scorecard and BLS data).