Sustainability Studies at Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College graduates with sustainability degrees start at about $32,000—well below both the national and Colorado medians for the field—but carry remarkably low debt at just $11,000. That's less than half the national average for this major, placing it in the 95th percentile for affordability. In Colorado specifically, this program sits in the middle of the pack (40th percentile), though there are only two schools offering sustainability degrees in-state, with UNC graduates earning significantly more at around $42,000.

The key question is whether the lower starting salary becomes a manageable tradeoff. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates can feasibly pay off their loans within the first year or two while pursuing mission-driven work that often pays less than corporate alternatives. Earnings do grow 12% over four years to about $36,000, though that's still below what you'd expect from most bachelor's degrees.

This program makes sense for students committed to sustainability careers who value Colorado's outdoor lifestyle and want to avoid heavy debt loads. The financial risk is minimal, but families should understand they're accepting lower earnings potential than similar programs elsewhere. If your child is weighing this against UNC or out-of-state options with stronger salary outcomes, the calculus depends on how much debt those alternatives would require.