Home Schools LSU Geosciences
Physical Sciences · Geosciences Rank #17 of 103

Geosciencesat Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Graduates earn $42,218/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $626K; scenarios range from $571K to $643K depending on AI disruption.

Baton Rouge, LA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
50
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,218
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$626K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at LSU

At $42,218 per year, Geosciences graduates from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College earn slightly above the $39,933 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 13.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 11% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Geosciences career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranks #17 among 103 Geosciences programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $42,218-to-$64,709 earnings arc over five years reflects a 53% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

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
$571K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$626K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple13.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$643K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple13.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to LSU'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 LSU 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 LSU

Other top programs at LSU

Other highest-scoring programs offered at LSU, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Geosciences at LSU

What does a 49/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Geosciences at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?

At 49/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Geosciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Geosciences at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?

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.

Is Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College one of the best schools for Geosciences?

Among 103 Geosciences programs, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College's #17 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.