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Physical Sciences · Geosciences Rank #8 of 103

Geosciencesat Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Graduates earn $41,158/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $735K; scenarios range from $655K to $765K depending on AI disruption.

Fort Collins, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
51 AVERAGE
52
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,158
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$735K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State's program stands out nationally, largely due to its prime location within the diverse geology and thriving natural resource economy of the Rocky Mountain region. You'll find strong recruiting pipelines into environmental consulting, water resource management, and the energy sector – both traditional and renewable. The university's strong ties to federal agencies like the USGS and a robust research focus in areas like hydrology and geological engineering further enhance graduate prospects. This means your degree prepares you for roles that demand critical thinking, fieldwork, and complex problem-solving, which are highly valued. While some data-intensive tasks in geoscience face automation, the hands-on problem-solving, field work, and project management aspects of many roles remain distinctly human. To maximize your value, actively pursue internships and develop strong GIS and remote sensing skills.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$655K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple12.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$735K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple14.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$765K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple14.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colorado State University-Fort Collins's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Geosciences graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$101,390/yr
Moderate
3
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
+3.2% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$99,240/yr
Moderate
4
Hydrologists
-0.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$92,060/yr
High
5
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
+2.2% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$86,220/yr
Moderate
6
Hydrologic technicians
-2.1% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$58,570/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Geosciences

How Colorado State University-Fort Collins stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Iowa State University
IA · Public
51
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
12.0x
ROI
College of Charleston
SC · Public
51
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
10.5x
ROI
University of South Florida
FL · Public
58
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
22.9x
ROI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
44
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
7.1x
ROI
Top score
University of Wyoming
WY · Public
59
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
24.6x
ROI
Also at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Other top programs at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Geosciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

What does a 51/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Geosciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

At 51/100, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Geosciences program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Geosciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.