Best colleges for Sustainability Studies in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University award the most Sustainability Studies degrees and certificates in Illinois: 107, 84 and 49 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Illinois colleges offer Sustainability Studies and award 283 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Sustainability Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program focused on the principles and practices of sustainability and sustainable development. This program is ideal for students interested in addressing environmental challenges…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,678 | 107 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,548 | 84 | 62% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Sustainability Studies degrees in Illinois
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 107 | $50,678 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 84 | $30,548 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 4 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
| 6 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
| 8 | Principia College Elsah Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041).
Top skills
What Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sustainability Studies programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Sustainability Studies degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (107 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (84 graduates a year) and Northwestern University (49 graduates a year) award the most Sustainability Studies degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Illinois colleges offer Sustainability Studies.
Which Sustainability Studies program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $50,678. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Illinois is $92,260 (median $81,590), across about 1,550 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Sustainability Studies program?+
Sustainability Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program focused on the principles and practices of sustainability and sustainable development. This program is ideal for students interested in addressing environmental challenges…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 8,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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