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Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,062/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs Top 25%

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 $610K $597K $549K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 12.8x 11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 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)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,712
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,993
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,340
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Texas at Austin's Geosciences graduates start at $42,062/yr — above the $39,933 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 12.8x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,993 in median debt clears quickly against $42,062 in annual earnings.

Ranked #25 out of 103 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's Geosciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,062 to $61,340 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Austin

Admission to The University of Texas at Austin is competitive, with 29% of applicants accepted, one of the larger campuses at 42,100 students in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($111,587) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($96,997) Business/Commerce, General ($94,041) Chemical Engineering ($87,365) Petroleum Engineering ($86,761) Management Information Systems and Services ($86,622) Mechanical Engineering ($82,227) Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,844)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas at Austin's Geosciences program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Geosciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Geosciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' 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.
Why does The University of Texas at Austin rank so high for Geosciences?
The #25 ranking out of 103 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →