Sustainability Studies at University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public · Certificate
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
56
Strong Growth
50
Base Case
42
Conservative
Earnings
$34,699/yr (-8% vs median)
AI-Proof
Moderate (56% shielded)
Job Market
Large (45,900 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Sustainability Studies graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $703K | $425K | $265K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 64.1x | 38.8x | 24.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 21.4x | 12.9x | 8.1x |
| Viable Career Paths | 8 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 8 of 8 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 56 | 50 | 42 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,964
Out-of-state: $32,927
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,036
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,597
75% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Sustainability Studies graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 45,900 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | $100,340 | 3,200 | -1.7% | 48% |
| Environmental science teachers, postsecondary | $87,710 | 700 | +2.9% | 48% |
| Urban and regional planners | $83,720 | 3,400 | +3.4% | 52% |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | $80,060 | 8,500 | +4.4% | 47% |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $78,490 | 13,500 | +1.8% | 100% |
| Conservation scientists | $67,950 | 2,500 | +3.4% | 48% |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | $49,490 | 5,600 | +4.0% | 54% |
Compare & Explore
Sustainability Studies Overview
Sustainability Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Sustainability Studies at University of Iowa?
This program scores 50/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 42 (conservative) to 56 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Sustainability Studies?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Sustainability Studies graduates retain 8 of 8 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $265,350 (conservative) to $703,024 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Sustainability Studies graduates?
The career paths mapped to Sustainability Studies have roughly 45,900 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Sustainability Studies at University of Iowa worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 38.8x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 24.2x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.