Geological/Geophysical Engineering: 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 5 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Geological/Geophysical Engineering pays
Career outlook for Geological/Geophysical Engineering graduates
The job market for the occupations Geological/Geophysical Engineering 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | 212,500 | +3.8% | $167,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineers, all other | 158,800 | +2.1% | $117,750 | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineering teachers, postsecondary | 50,300 | +8.1% | $106,120 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers | 7,000 | +0.7% | $101,020 | 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/Geophysical Engineering vs similar majors
How Geological/Geophysical Engineering stacks up against the closest fields in Engineering on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering Engineering · this major | Operations Research | Systems Engineering | Computer Engineering | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 90 A | 94 A | 88 A | 91 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $88,593 | $168,920 | $135,617 | $112,722 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $72,278 | $91,796 | $111,379 | $81,735 |
| ROI vs cost | +442% | +1,484% | +996% | +745% |
| Typical debt | $23,125 | $17,166 | $29,370 | $22,332 |
| Colleges offering it | 5 | 6 | 26 | 168 |
Geological/Geophysical Engineering 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/Geophysical Engineering
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 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | Associate's | $86,070 | — | +1,083% | Strong return |
| 2 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO | Certificate | $99,724 | — | +739% | Strong return |
| 3 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO | Professional | $99,304 | — | +733% | Strong return |
| 4 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO | Associate's | $73,496 | $19,249 | +619% | Strong return |
| 5 | Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | Associate's | $84,373 | $27,000 | +486% | 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.