Sustainability Studies at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's Sustainability Studies program shows promising first-year earnings of $43,090—roughly $6,000 above the national median and outperforming 79% of similar programs nationwide. The $27,000 in typical debt translates to a manageable 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about eight months of gross income. That's a relatively comfortable position for a humanities-adjacent field that often struggles with the earnings-versus-debt equation.

The catch is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could swing significantly year to year. What looks like strong performance might reflect a few well-connected graduates landing unusually good positions, or it could indicate that UNH's interdisciplinary approach and New England location genuinely open doors in environmental consulting, corporate sustainability, and nonprofit management. The state context offers limited insight since only four New Hampshire schools offer this major, but UNH captures the median position.

For families banking on sustainability work, this program appears to deliver a realistic entry point without crushing debt. Just recognize that "sustainability" roles vary wildly—from $35,000 nonprofit positions to $55,000 corporate jobs—and a small dataset means your student's outcome could differ substantially from these medians. The low debt load provides valuable flexibility if career pivots become necessary.