Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,524/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #32 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $570K $561K $521K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.7x 16.5x 15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.7x 7.6x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,096
Out-of-state: $73,736 (7.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,924
-117% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,558
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,524/yr, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates from State University of New York at New Paltz land near the $39,933 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.5x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $18,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #32 out of 103 programs, State University of New York at New Paltz's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,524 to $56,558 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About State University of New York at New Paltz

State University of New York at New Paltz accepts 59% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 6,022 students in New Paltz, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at State University of New York at New Paltz →

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

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at State University of New York at New Paltz

Frequently Asked Questions

How does State University of New York at New Paltz's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Geological and Earth Sciences/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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →