Geological and Earth Sciences

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$46,036

Median Earnings

$60,453

Schools Offering

148

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $56,255Median: $60,45375th: $66,922

Best Schools for Geological and Earth Sciences by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public	83	$85,207	$15,300	$29,250	B+
2	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$83,481	$19,857	$16,487	B
3	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver PA · Public	64	$81,092	$17,418	$26,000	C+
4	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$81,092	$32,875	$26,000	C+
5	Pennsylvania State University-World Campus PA · Public	63	$81,092	$19,550	$26,000	C+
6	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$79,143	$12,548	N/A	-
7	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$74,594	$21,315	$20,837	C+
8	Texas Tech University TX · Public	76	$74,591	$19,070	$25,750	C+
9	San Diego State University CA · Public	84	$73,647	$15,364	$21,500	C+
10	California State University-Sacramento CA · Public	83	$73,418	$9,338	$15,000	A
11	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$73,337	$14,741	$16,416	B
12	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$73,305	$11,531	$19,375	B
13	Lehigh University PA · Private	93	$72,978	$36,931	$19,707	B+
14	Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public	69	$71,631	$21,279	$26,028	C
15	University of California-Irvine CA · Public	94	$70,820	$14,251	$15,000	B
16	University of South Carolina-Columbia SC · Public	72	$70,284	$22,811	$26,500	C
17	Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public	83	$70,106	$24,406	$24,830	C+
18	Rutgers University-Newark NJ · Public	82	$70,106	$19,703	$24,830	C+
19	California State University-Bakersfield CA · Public	75	$69,989	$5,652	N/A	-
20	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$69,943	$6,541	$24,757	C
21	University of Florida-Online FL · Public	91	$69,943	$4,815	$24,757	C
22	University of Connecticut CT · Public	85	$69,610	$25,097	N/A	-
23	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public	85	$69,610	$10,875	N/A	-
24	University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public	87	$69,610	$13,807	N/A	-
25	University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public	84	$69,610	$16,798	N/A	-
26	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public	87	$69,610	$16,403	N/A	-
27	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$69,227	$16,665	$15,000	B+
28	University of Wyoming WY · Public	77	$68,883	$13,599	$23,700	C+
29	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$68,201	$14,355	$23,250	C
30	University of Houston TX · Public	80	$68,127	$14,276	$25,000	B
31	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public	76	$67,493	$19,151	$19,500	C+
32	Western Washington University WA · Public	72	$67,208	$21,193	$26,158	D
33	Ohio University-Eastern Campus OH · Public	62	$66,922	$3,925	$19,500	C+
34	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus OH · Public	60	$66,922	$5,755	$19,500	C+
35	Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public	48	$66,922	$21,637	$19,500	C+
36	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus OH · Public	60	$66,922	$5,746	$19,500	C+
37	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$66,845	$14,091	$20,500	C
38	University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public	91	$66,845	$12,319	$20,500	C
39	West Virginia University WV · Public	64	$66,798	$15,634	$23,250	C
40	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$66,788	$16,109	$21,800	D
41	Florida State University FL · Public	83	$66,157	$11,297	N/A	-
42	University of Southern Mississippi MS · Public	27	$66,142	$21,708	N/A	-
43	Montclair State University NJ · Public	71	$65,826	$15,566	$25,000	C
44	The University of Texas at Arlington TX · Public	76	$65,294	$13,951	$27,931	C
45	Iowa State University IA · Public	79	$65,204	$18,589	$26,250	C+
46	State University of New York at Oswego NY · Public	65	$64,634	$16,236	$27,000	B
47	University of California-Santa Cruz CA · Public	85	$64,499	$17,890	$20,833	C+
48	SUNY Oneonta NY · Public	72	$64,410	$19,158	N/A	-
49	College of Charleston SC · Public	57	$63,993	$18,960	$26,500	C+
50	University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public	74	$63,893	$18,743	$27,219	B

Fair Value

Is Geological and Earth Sciences Worth It?

Worth It - With the Right School

Geological and Earth Sciences offers moderate financial returns. Average earnings of $46,036 four years after graduation are close to the national median for all bachelor's degree holders. The financial case works at affordable schools but gets shakier as tuition rises. Choose your school carefully.

148 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, where graduates earn $85,207 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Geological and Earth Sciences All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Geological and Earth Sciences

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Geological and Earth Sciences by Earnings

Is Geological and Earth Sciences Worth It?

Worth It - With the Right School

Related Reading