Sustainability Studies Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Sustainability Studies degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Sustainability Studies in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Sustainability Studies has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Environmental Policy and Lifecycle Analysis skills. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $54,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Sustainability Studies Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Sustainability Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Sustainability Studies ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Sustainability Studies degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$274,868
Lifetime earnings premium ($370,600) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Sustainability Studies in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Sustainability Studies
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Sustainability Studies in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Sustainability Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Sustainability Studies Job Titles
Sustainability Studies in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Chicago
International Relations
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$55K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies Degree in Chicago — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Sustainability Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chicago.