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Geological/Geophysical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $63,658/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (28,300 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 4 Geological/Geophysical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geological/Geophysical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $666K $649K $588K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.1x 8.8x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.9x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$73,568
Out-of-state: $165,360 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,916
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,198
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $63,658/yr, roughly in line with the $63,981 national median for Geological/Geophysical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $63,658 far exceeding the $23,198 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

With only 4 programs offering Geological/Geophysical Engineering nationally, this is a niche field. Michigan Technological University ranks #4 among them.

About Michigan Technological University

Michigan Technological University accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 5,829 students in Houghton, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan Technological University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 4 schools offering Geological/Geophysical Engineering →

Geological/Geophysical Engineering at Other Schools

Colorado School of Mines ($68,694) Missouri University of Science and Technology ($64,503) University of Mississippi ($59,070)

Other Majors at Michigan Technological University

Chemical Engineering ($80,193) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,439) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($77,810) Computer Engineering ($77,465) Mechanical Engineering ($74,922) Civil Engineering ($70,928) Computer Science ($69,910) Engineering-Related Fields ($68,919)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan Technological University's Geological/Geophysical Engineering program score?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Michigan Technological University trails the majority of Geological/Geophysical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Geological/Geophysical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Geological/Geophysical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →