Geosciencesat Iowa State University
Graduates earn $50,150/yr in their first year — about 26.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $530K; scenarios range from $497K to $535K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Iowa State University
Your interest in Iowa State's Geosciences program points you towards a strong regional performer. The university's robust applied science and engineering heritage likely underpins this success, equipping graduates with practical skills highly valued by employers. You'll find graduates well-prepared for roles in environmental consulting, water resource management, and state/federal agencies like the USDA or geological surveys. The regional demand for expertise in areas like soil science, hydrology, and environmental remediation provides a robust pipeline into firms like Terracon or state DNRs.
While many data-heavy or repetitive tasks in geoscience are vulnerable to automation, the core of the field—hands-on fieldwork, complex problem interpretation, and client communication—remains distinctly human. To build a resilient career, focus on developing strong field skills, critical thinking for problem-solving, and interdisciplinary communication. Seek internships that emphasize fieldwork and project management to build a resilient career path.
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 Iowa State University'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 Iowa State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Iowa State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Iowa State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Geosciences at Iowa State University
How does Iowa State University's Geosciences program score?
This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Geosciences graduates.
How vulnerable is Geosciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Geosciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.