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Geosciences at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,692/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #79 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geosciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $467K $470K $451K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.7x 11.8x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,692 track close to the $39,933 national median for Geosciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geosciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Geosciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

At $15,000 in median debt against $39,692 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #79 of 103 Geosciences programs, Purdue University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

With a 50% acceptance rate, Purdue University-Main Campus is moderately selective, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers $99,240/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 103 schools offering Geosciences →

Geosciences at Other Schools

University of Houston-Downtown ($50,894) Kean University ($50,645) Iowa State University ($50,150) College of Charleston ($49,786) Texas Tech University ($49,727) University of Utah ($49,446) California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($49,406) University of South Florida ($48,565)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geosciences at Purdue University-Main Campus?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Geosciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Geosciences careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $451,103 in decade earnings vs $467,259 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →