Geosciencesat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $43,068/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Geosciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $686K; scenarios range from $617K to $710K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
As a top-tier program, UW-Madison's Geosciences department leverages a strong research focus and national reputation, attracting a broad range of employers and graduate programs. The robust faculty expertise and emphasis on fieldwork, particularly in areas like hydrogeology and environmental geology relevant to Wisconsin's abundant natural resources, prepare students for diverse and impactful careers. Graduates often find themselves in environmental consulting, state and federal agencies like the USGS or EPA, or pursuing advanced degrees that lead to research and academia. The program's strength in applied sciences ensures you'll gain valuable, hands-on experience sought after by employers nationally, not just regionally. While certain analytical aspects of the field face evolving AI risks, your success will hinge on developing irreplaceable skills like critical field observation, complex data interpretation, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Actively pursue internships and tailor your coursework to a specialization to future-proof your career.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UW-Madison's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Geosciences
How UW-Madison stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UW-Madison
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UW-Madison, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Geosciences at UW-Madison
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geosciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geosciences field.
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 $617,112 in decade earnings vs $709,940 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Wisconsin-Madison's Geosciences program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 103 programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Madison lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.