Geosciencesat James Madison University
Graduates earn $48,118/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $548K; scenarios range from $511K to $555K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at James Madison University
At $48,118 per year, Geosciences graduates from James Madison University earn slightly above the $39,933 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 10.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $21,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #27 out of 103 programs, James Madison University's Geosciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $48,118 to $56,834 over five years (18% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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 James Madison 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 James Madison University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at James Madison University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at James Madison University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Geosciences at James Madison University
How does James Madison University's Geosciences program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Geosciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.