Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $41,156 track close to the $39,933 national median for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,156 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #70 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $41,156 to $50,483 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.