Geosciencesat California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Graduates earn $48,489/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $531K; scenarios range from $498K to $535K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly SLO
First-year earnings of $48,489 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo come in 21% above the national median of $39,933 for Geosciences programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geosciences programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Geosciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $48,489 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #38 of 103 Geosciences programs, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly SLO's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Geosciences
How Cal Poly SLO stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly SLO
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly SLO, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Geosciences at Cal Poly SLO
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geosciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Geosciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Geosciences careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $497,711 in decade earnings vs $535,390 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.