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Sector Analysis · Physical Sciences

Best Geosciences Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)

103 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Geosciences, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Geosciences graduate earns $39,934/yr across 103 schools.

What do Geosciences graduates do? See career paths and salaries →

Why a Land-Grant School in Laramie Owns This Ranking

The University of Wyoming's #1 spot isn't an accident; it's a direct result of its location and mission. Situated in a state built on natural resource extraction, the university's geology program is a direct pipeline into the energy and mining sectors. Low in-state tuition of just $27,752 for four years, combined with strong graduate earnings of $45,758, creates an exceptional 24.6x ROI. Graduates leave with practical, field-relevant skills demanded by local industries, making them immediately employable in a state where geology is the economy.

The Highest ROI Comes From an Online Degree

The most shocking entry on this list is the University of Florida-Online at #15, boasting a massive 33.3x ROI that eclipses every other school in the top 20. This is driven by an incredibly low four-year tuition of just $15,504. While earnings are slightly lower at $40,691/yr, the minimal investment makes it the single best financial bet on this list. It proves that for a field seemingly dependent on fieldwork, the data analysis and theoretical components can be delivered online at a fraction of the cost, without gutting the degree's financial power.

What 50% AI Risk Actually Means for a Geologist

Every program on this list faces high AI exposure, but this doesn't mean your job is disappearing. It means the tedious parts are being automated. AI will excel at processing seismic data, analyzing satellite imagery, and running geological models far faster than a human ever could. Your value in 2030 won't be in manual data entry or routine analysis; it will be in directing the AI, interpreting its complex outputs, and applying your judgment in the field where sensors and algorithms can't go. This degree is becoming less about crunching data and more about making critical decisions based on it.

Public Universities and the Texas-California Axis Dominate

Notice a pattern? All 20 of our top programs are at public universities, with Texas and California alone accounting for eight spots. This is because large public land-grant institutions are often designed to support their state's key industries. In Texas, that means a deep connection to the oil and gas sector, which hires geoscientists en masse. In California, the focus is on managing complex environmental challenges like water resources, seismic risk, and coastal geology. The best schools for this major are clustered where the rocks, resources, and jobs are.

Programs Ranked
103
Avg Earnings
$39,934/yr
Avg DW Score
41/100
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Top Institutions

Leading the field for Geosciences

The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 103 programs below.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 59
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY · Public
$45,7581-yr earnings
24.6xROI multiple
HighAI risk
University of South Florida
58
FL · #2
$48,565/yr · 22.9x ROI
East Carolina University
56
NC · #3
$44,961/yr · 20.1x ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
53
TX · #4
$44,585/yr · 12.9x ROI
The Ranking Matrix

All Geosciences Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

Sort by
# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY · Public
59
59–60
 $45,758/yr 24.6x
2 University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public
58
57–59
 $48,565/yr 22.9x
3 East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
56
56–57
 $44,961/yr 20.1x
4 Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
53
54–55
 $44,585/yr 12.9x
5 University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
53
55–55
 $43,068/yr 15.0x
6 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · Public
53
54–54
 $42,932/yr 15.8x
7 University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
51
52–52
 $43,362/yr 11.5x
8 Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
51
54–52
 $41,158/yr 13.7x
9 Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public
51
50–52
 $50,150/yr 12.0x
10 College of Charleston
Charleston, SC · Public
51
50–52
 $49,786/yr 10.5x
11 University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, TX · Public
51
49–52
 $50,894/yr 15.5x
12 Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX · Public
51
49–52
 $49,727/yr 11.0x
13 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public
50
49–51
 $49,406/yr 15.6x
14 Weber State University
Ogden, UT · Public
50
49–52
 $47,998/yr 17.8x
15 University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public
50
53–51
 $40,691/yr 33.3x
16 California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
49
56–50
 $35,509/yr 27.0x
17 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · Public
49
51–50
 $42,218/yr 12.5x
18 Kean University
Union, NJ · Public
49
48–50
 $50,645/yr 9.5x
19 The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Public
49
50–50
 $42,779/yr 14.7x
20 University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public
48
49–49
 $43,462/yr 9.8x
21 Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, CT · Public
48
49–49
 $43,915/yr 10.6x
22 University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
48
51–49
 $40,691/yr 19.8x
23 University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · Public
48
51–48
 $39,696/yr 13.9x
24 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA · Public
48
50–49
 $41,094/yr 13.4x
25 The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public
48
50–49
 $42,062/yr 12.1x
26 University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT · Public
48
47–49
 $49,446/yr 12.3x
27 James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public
48
47–49
 $48,118/yr 9.5x
28 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public
48
48–49
 $44,207/yr 13.3x
29 University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
47
47–48
 $46,263/yr 8.4x
30 Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA · Public
47
51–48
 $39,375/yr 16.2x
31 Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · Public
47
48–48
 $43,421/yr 18.3x
32 State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · Public
47
50–48
 $40,524/yr 15.6x
33 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Bend, OR · Public
47
50–48
 $39,450/yr 12.4x
34 University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public
46
50–47
 $38,804/yr 11.5x
35 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
46
46–47
 $44,825/yr 8.2x
36 Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS · Public
46
48–47
 $42,298/yr 12.8x
37 Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR · Public
46
50–47
 $39,450/yr 11.5x
38 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public
45
44–46
 $48,489/yr 9.9x
39 Winona State University
Winona, MN · Public
45
51–46
 $36,984/yr 14.7x
40 University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
45
50–46
 $37,717/yr 18.0x
41 University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
44
49–45
 $38,617/yr 11.2x
42 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public
44
43–45
 $45,974/yr 7.1x
43 University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · Public
44
48–44
 $38,459/yr 16.6x
44 The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
44
45–45
 $42,788/yr 10.4x
45 University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public
43
42–44
 $46,954/yr 8.8x
46 SUNY Brockport
Brockport, NY · Public
43
48–44
 $37,768/yr 14.9x
47 University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH · Public
43
47–44
 $39,678/yr 10.7x
48 Auburn University
Auburn, AL · Public
42
41–43
 $45,588/yr 8.1x
49 Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public
42
45–43
 $39,997/yr 8.6x
50 Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · Public
42
41–43
 $47,352/yr 7.3x
51 Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public
42
47–43
 $37,831/yr 11.9x
52 Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
42
48–43
 $36,802/yr 14.3x
53 Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public
41
43–42
 $42,528/yr 9.1x
54 San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
41
43–42
 $41,351/yr 11.5x
55 Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
41
40–42
 $47,045/yr 5.8x
56 Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · Public
41
40–42
 $47,045/yr 6.1x
57 Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, OH · Public
41
44–41
 $39,321/yr 10.9x
58 University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV · Public
40
42–41
 $41,963/yr 11.0x
59 Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit
40
40–41
 $45,727/yr 5.9x
60 Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
40
45–41
 $38,637/yr 14.6x
61 Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public
40
45–41
 $38,637/yr 14.6x
62 Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public
40
45–41
 $38,637/yr 14.6x
63 Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public
40
45–41
 $38,637/yr 14.6x
64 Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public
40
45–41
 $38,637/yr 14.6x
65 University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA · Public
40
44–41
 $38,652/yr 9.2x
66 University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown, PA · Public
40
44–41
 $38,652/yr 9.2x
67 Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public
39
46–39
 $34,481/yr 14.3x
68 Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · Public
39
40–40
 $43,985/yr 6.4x
69 Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
39
47–40
 $35,021/yr 16.3x
70 Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
39
42–40
 $41,156/yr 8.8x
71 University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS · Public
38
40–39
 $41,626/yr 7.9x
72 University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV · Public
38
41–39
 $39,553/yr 10.0x
73 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA · Public
38
47–39
 $28,040/yr 14.9x
74 Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public
38
46–39
 $34,329/yr 13.8x
75 Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public
38
46–38
 $33,178/yr 11.6x
76 Boise State University
Boise, ID · Public
37
47–38
 $31,701/yr 15.7x
77 North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
37
41–38
 $38,871/yr 9.9x
78 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public
37
41–37
 $38,652/yr 5.9x
79 Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · Public
37
40–38
 $39,692/yr 8.9x
80 University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
36
45–37
 $30,759/yr 11.0x
81 Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH · Public
36
39–37
 $40,005/yr 8.2x
82 Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI · Public
35
42–36
 $35,235/yr 9.2x
83 Miami University-Oxford
Oxford, OH · Public
35
39–35
 $38,478/yr 6.5x
84 West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public
35
42–36
 $36,382/yr 11.4x
85 University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA · Public
33
41–33
 $33,344/yr 13.0x
86 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public
33
37–34
 $38,867/yr 5.1x
87 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · Public
33
37–34
 $38,675/yr 5.6x
88 Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public
33
38–34
 $38,637/yr 6.0x
89 University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public
33
38–34
 $38,432/yr 6.6x
90 University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
33
42–34
 $29,724/yr 11.1x
91 University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public
33
43–34
 $29,724/yr 11.2x
92 Montana State University
Bozeman, MT · Public
32
41–33
 $29,030/yr 14.8x
93 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · Public
31
41–32
 $29,476/yr 14.4x
94 University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public
31
37–32
 $37,280/yr 5.5x
95 Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit
29
32–30
 $40,371/yr 0.5x
96 Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana, PA · Public
29
36–29
 $34,617/yr 6.6x
97 Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · Public
27
36–27
 $30,723/yr 8.0x
98 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR · Public
25
34–26
 $31,087/yr 7.0x
99 University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI · Public
25
34–25
 $29,117/yr 8.3x
100 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
24
34–25
 $30,101/yr 7.8x
101 SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · Public
23
31–24
 $27,395/yr 6.6x
102 Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
22
30–23
 $34,658/yr 0.3x
103 University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
19
24–20
 $22,998/yr 3.1x
FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best school for Geosciences?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, University of Wyoming ranks #1 for Geosciences with a score of 59/100 and graduate earnings of $45,758/yr.

How much do Geosciences graduates earn?

Across 103 schools, Geosciences graduates earn an average of $39,934/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $50,894/yr.

Is Geosciences a good major for AI resistance?

Geosciences has an average AI task exposure of 50%, rated "High". This field has significant AI exposure. Check individual program pages for scenario analysis.

DegreeOutlook Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeOutlook Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.