Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 115 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences pays
Career outlook for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates
The job market for the occupations Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Chemistry teachers, postsecondary | 25,400 | +2.2% | $86,220 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers | 25,100 | +3.2% | $99,240 | Bachelor's degree |
| Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary | 14,000 | +2.6% | $101,390 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians | 9,800 | +1.5% | $48,390 | Associate's degree |
| Hydrologists | 6,300 | -0.1% | $92,060 | Bachelor's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences vs similar majors
How Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences stacks up against the closest fields in Physical Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Physical Sciences · this major | Materials Sciences | Physics | Chemistry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 48 D | 90 A | 91 A | 79 B |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $60,851 | $89,157 | $88,303 | $73,122 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $42,174 | $72,216 | $50,324 | $46,383 |
| ROI vs cost | +98% | +449% | +444% | +252% |
| Typical debt | $22,484 | $23,224 | $20,935 | $21,439 |
| Colleges offering it | 115 | 3 | 64 | 241 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Associate's | $79,103 | $16,625 | +1,679% | Strong return |
| 2 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC | Certificate | $61,359 | — | +1,602% | Strong return |
| 3 | California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA | Associate's | $81,480 | $15,000 | +1,411% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Associate's | $74,453 | — | +992% | Strong return |
| 5 | Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID | Associate's | $60,999 | — | +873% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of Houston Houston, TX | Certificate | $110,977 | $34,875 | +845% | Strong return |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Monaca, PA | Associate's | $82,224 | $25,648 | +743% | Strong return |
| 8 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Associate's | $63,830 | — | +733% | Strong return |
| 9 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $67,486 | — | +707% | Strong return |
| 10 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | Associate's | $71,246 | $14,916 | +673% | Strong return |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA | Associate's | $82,224 | $25,648 | +668% | Strong return |
| 12 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY | Associate's | $71,082 | $18,960 | +665% | Strong return |
| 13 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Associate's | $71,720 | $16,298 | +600% | Strong return |
| 14 | University of Houston Houston, TX | Associate's | $71,224 | $24,875 | +597% | Strong return |
| 15 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | Certificate | $83,481 | — | +583% | Strong return |
| 16 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | Associate's | $65,491 | — | +558% | Strong return |
| 17 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Associate's | $72,711 | $20,833 | +539% | Strong return |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | Associate's | $71,564 | $24,250 | +510% | Strong return |
| 19 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | Associate's | $75,612 | $22,250 | +504% | Strong return |
| 20 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Associate's | $66,050 | $16,000 | +496% | Strong return |
| 21 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA | Associate's | $61,402 | — | +491% | Strong return |
| 22 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA | Associate's | $62,838 | — | +484% | Strong return |
| 23 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL | Associate's | $61,397 | $24,405 | +475% | Strong return |
| 24 | Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX | Associate's | $72,906 | $18,686 | +464% | Strong return |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Associate's | $67,218 | $26,500 | +460% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.