Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
CIP40.06
444 colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 444
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $60,378
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,575
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 34
- Associate's
- 139
- Bachelor's
- 444
- Master's
- 205
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 9
- Doctoral
- 139
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 41
What it covers
About Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 40.06.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 40.06.
- Geology/Earth Science, General
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics and Seismology
- Paleontology
- Hydrology and Water Resources Science
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 34 | $76,4634 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Associate's | 139 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 444 | $60,3784 yrs after · 128 colleges | $19,57565 colleges |
| Master's | 205 | $94,0474 yrs after · 14 colleges | $35,8754 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 139 | $99,1094 yrs after · 4 colleges | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 41 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK · Public · 14 graduates
$85,207
debt $25,142
- 2
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 47 graduates
$83,481
debt $13,000
- 3
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · 20 graduates
$79,143
debt not reported
- 4
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public · 51 graduates
$74,594
debt $17,279
- 5
Lubbock, TX · Public · 18 graduates
$74,591
debt $27,000
- 6
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public · 17 graduates
$73,418
debt not reported
- 7
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · 10 graduates
$73,337
debt not reported
- 8
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public · 19 graduates
$73,305
debt not reported
- 9
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates
$72,978
debt not reported
- 10
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public · 27 graduates
$71,631
debt $15,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Education
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $103,170
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Science
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
- Median pay
- $101,920
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Science
Hydrologists
- Median pay
- $96,600
- Outlook
- Slower than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Education
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $93,250
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
Science
Hydrologic Technicians
- Median pay
- $64,790
- Outlook
- Decline
Associate's degree
More in Physical Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
How many colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at these degree levels: certificate (34 colleges), associate's (139 colleges), bachelor's (444 colleges), master's (205 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (9 colleges), doctoral (139 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (41 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences earn $60,378 a year four years after finishing, across 128 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn the most?
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences: $85,207 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.