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Geosciences at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,178/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #75 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs

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 $702K $678K $611K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.5x 13.1x 11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.8x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,433
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,534
98% growth from Year 1

About Washington State University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Washington State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 21,583 students in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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

Iowa State University ($50,150) College of Charleston ($49,786) University of South Florida ($48,565) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($45,974) University of Wyoming ($45,758) East Carolina University ($44,961) Texas A & M University-College Station ($44,585) University of California-Santa Cruz ($43,362)

Other Majors at Washington State University

Computer Engineering ($87,135) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($83,894) Construction Engineering Technologies ($80,404) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,874) Computer Science ($79,519) Civil Engineering ($74,841) Mechanical Engineering ($72,690) Chemical Engineering ($69,820)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geosciences at Washington State University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Geosciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $611,382 in decade earnings vs $701,559 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Geosciences from Washington State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →