Geosciences at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,717/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 19.2x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 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 Geosciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $563K $555K $516K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.5x 19.2x 17.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.3x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 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)
$28,856
Out-of-state: $87,504 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,980
-104% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,980
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,869
45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,717/yr, roughly in line with the $39,933 national median for Geosciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 19.2x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,980 debt-to-$37,717 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #40 out of 103 programs, University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Geosciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,717 to $54,869 shows 45% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte accepts 80% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 23,567 in Charlotte, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Charlotte →

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

Geosciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Geosciences program score?
This program scores 45/100 — 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 →