# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences
- CIP code: 40.06 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 444 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 34 | not reported | $76,463 | not reported |
| Associate's | 139 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 444 | $45,571 | $60,378 | $19,575 |
| Master's | 205 | $67,691 | $94,047 | $35,875 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 139 | not reported | $99,109 | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 41 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus-main-campus-3007) | Norman, OK | $85,207 | $25,142 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Austin, TX | $83,481 | $13,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Los Angeles, CA | $79,143 | not reported |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | College Station, TX | $74,594 | $17,279 |
| [Texas Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-tech-university-2710) | Lubbock, TX | $74,591 | $27,000 |
| [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-sacramento-375) | Sacramento, CA | $73,418 | not reported |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | Davis, CA | $73,337 | not reported |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Pomona, CA | $73,305 | not reported |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Bethlehem, PA | $72,978 | not reported |
| [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-state-university-fort-collins-644) | Fort Collins, CO | $71,631 | $15,000 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/atmospheric-earth-marine-and-space-sciences-teachers-postsecondary): $103,170 median pay
- [Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geoscientists-except-hydrologists-and-geographers): $101,920 median pay
- [Hydrologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologists): $96,600 median pay
- [Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemistry-teachers-postsecondary): $93,250 median pay
- [Hydrologic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydrologic-technicians): $64,790 median pay
- [Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geological-technicians-except-hydrologic-technicians): $53,350 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry): 1,132 colleges
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics): 772 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics): 112 colleges
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology): 83 colleges
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences): 45 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/