Geosciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings
$38,867/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI
7.3x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
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 | $461K | $464K | $447K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.2x | 7.3x | 7.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.3x | 3.4x | 3.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 68% | 60% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 34 | 33 | 37 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (3.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,875
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$45,966
18% growth from Year 1
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 44% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 34,623 students in Champaign, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →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
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Geosciences program score?
This program scores 33/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →