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UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 3033

Sustainability Studies: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 4 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$59,417 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$59,417Median year-4 earnings

$21,627Average institution net-price context

$23,463Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$59,417Median reported earnings · year 4

$60,597Average reported earnings · year 5

$23,463Median federal debt

68thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

4Reporting programs

4With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $59,417
Federal debt: $23,463
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $59,660
Federal debt: $20,510
Reporting programs: 21

17 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $79,893
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 14

14 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$46,999National median$59,41775th percentile$61,805

4 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Georgia$67,208 2University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$61,805 3University of Iowa$57,029 4Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania$46,999

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Conservation ScientistsSOC 19-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1053 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSOC 19-4042 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthSOC 19-2041 · 1 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksUrban and Regional PlannersSOC 19-3051 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	University of GeorgiaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Athens, GA	$67,208	$20,033	Baseline needed	$13,936
2	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pittsburgh, PA	$61,805	$25,500	Baseline needed	$30,434
3	University of IowaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Iowa City, IA	$57,029	$21,425	Baseline needed	$22,531
4	Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Slippery Rock, PA	$46,999	$26,000	Baseline needed	$19,608

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.