Best colleges for Sustainability Studies in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Allegheny College and Chatham University award the most Sustainability Studies degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 83, 40 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sustainability Studies and award 227 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 4 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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Certificate | $40,485 | 83 | 85% | — | $25,500 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $59,456 | 14 | 86% | — | $23,125 |
| 3 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Certificate Small program | $25,169 | 7 | 66% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Chatham University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $18,954 | 17 | 63% | $23,700 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Sustainability Studies degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 83 | $40,485 |
| 2 | Allegheny College Meadville Private not-for-profit | 40 | Not reported |
| 3 | Chatham University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 17 | $18,954 |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 14 | $59,456 |
| 6 | Muhlenberg College Allentown Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 7 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 7 | $25,169 |
| 9 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Pennsylvania colleges offering Sustainability Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 5 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | Public | 4 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 1 |
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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sustainability Studies programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Sustainability Studies degrees?+
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (83 graduates a year), Allegheny College (40 graduates a year) and Chatham University (17 graduates a year) award the most Sustainability Studies degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sustainability Studies.
Which Sustainability Studies program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus tops the list at $40,485. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Pennsylvania is $82,270 (median $76,110), across about 3,020 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card