UnisHub University Compass

Geology and Earth Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Explore the dynamic systems that shape our planet through a comprehensive study of Earth’s structure, composition, and evolution. This program equips students with the analytical and field-based skills needed to investigate geological processes and their impacts on natural environments and human society.

  • Historical Geology: Examine Earth’s past through rock layers and fossil records to reconstruct the planet’s evolutionary timeline and major geological events.
  • Geomorphology: Study the formation and transformation of landforms through processes like erosion, tectonics, and weathering across diverse landscapes.
  • Sedimentology: Analyze the origin, transport, and deposition of sediments to understand past environments and the development of sedimentary rock formations.
  • Geochemistry of Rocks and Soils: Investigate the chemical composition and reactions of Earth materials to interpret their origins and environmental behavior.
  • Stratigraphy: Apply principles of rock layering to interpret geological history, including depositional environments and chronological sequences.
  • Mineralogy: Study the physical and chemical properties of minerals, their crystal structures, and their roles in rock formation.
  • Petrology: Examine the origin, classification, and evolution of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks through field and laboratory analysis.
  • Geostatistics: Apply statistical methods to model spatial variability in geological data for resource estimation and risk assessment.
  • Volcanology: Explore the mechanisms and impacts of volcanic activity, including magma dynamics, eruption types, and hazard mitigation.
  • Glaciology: Investigate the formation, movement, and environmental influence of glaciers and ice sheets, particularly in climate change contexts.
  • Geophysical Principles: Utilize physical methods such as seismic, magnetic, and gravitational surveys to probe Earth’s subsurface structure and composition.
  • Applied Research and Industry Applications: Develop solutions to real-world challenges in energy, mining, environmental management, and infrastructure planning using geological expertise.

Geology and Earth Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

5,715
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
435
Universities & Colleges
5
Career Pathways

Geology and Earth Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Geology and Earth Science degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 150,290 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 $161,180 $79,830 - $239,200 100,870 $77.49
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1051 $101,390 $53,310 - $199,260 11,480 N/A
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 19-2042 $99,240 $58,790 - $178,880 22,510 $47.71
Hydrologists 19-2043 $92,060 $60,010 - $139,420 5,720 $44.26
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians 19-4043 $48,390 $32,830 - $92,210 9,710 $23.27

Salary Comparison

Geology and Earth Science Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $73,813 in Louisiana to $164,650 in District of Columbia—a 123% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 150,290 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Geology and Earth Science by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Geology and Earth Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Geology and Earth Science is found at Mississippi State University (MSU) (147 graduates), Washington State University (WSU) (119 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (74 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (73 graduates), and University of California (UCI), Irvine (71 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,509 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Admissions Location Control Website
Mississippi State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
147 SAT: 1110-1410
ACT: 21-29
Mississippi State, Mississippi Public msstate.edu
Washington State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
119 N/A Pullman, Washington Public wsu.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
74 SAT: 1350-1530
ACT: 31-34
Ann Arbor, Michigan Public umich.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
73 SAT: 1490-1570
ACT: 34-35
New York, New York Private columbia.edu
University of California (UCI)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
71 N/A Irvine, California Public uci.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
70 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33
Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
University of Arizona
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
68 SAT: 1160-1420
ACT: 21-30
Tucson, Arizona Public arizona.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
68 SAT: 1220-1400
ACT: 27-32
University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
University of California (UCSC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
67 N/A Santa Cruz, California Public ucsc.edu
Purdue University (PU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
67 SAT: 1190-1460
ACT: 27-34
West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdue.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor's
Master's
65 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 21-27
Charlotte, North Carolina Public charlotte.edu
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
65 SAT: 1140-1380
ACT: 25-31
College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
Montana State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
64 SAT: 1060-1270
ACT: 20-27
Bozeman, Montana Public montana.edu
Stanford University
Bachelor's
Master's
63 SAT: 1510-1580
ACT: 34-35
Stanford, California Private stanford.edu
Western Washington University (WWU)
Bachelor's
Master's
59 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 23-29
Bellingham, Washington Public wwu.edu
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
55 SAT: 1270-1450
ACT: 29-33
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Public pitt.edu
University of California (UCSB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
53 N/A Santa Barbara, California Public ucsb.edu
University of California (UCSD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
51 N/A La Jolla, California Public ucsd.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Bachelor's
Master's
50 SAT: 1100-1290
ACT: 22-28
Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
48 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-28
Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)
Bachelor's
43 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 18-25
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Public commonwealthu.edu
University of South Florida (USF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
42 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 24-29
Tampa, Florida Public usf.edu
University of Hawaii (UHM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
41 SAT: 1020-1240
ACT: 20-27
Honolulu, Hawaii Public manoa.hawaii.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
40 SAT: 1230-1420
ACT: 28-33
Boulder, Colorado Public colorado.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)
Bachelor's
40 SAT: 980-1230
ACT: 18-24
Las Vegas, Nevada Public unlv.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
38 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
37 SAT: 1310-1480
ACT: 27-31
Minneapolis, Minnesota Public twin-cities.umn.edu
Colorado State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
36 N/A Fort Collins, Colorado Public colostate.edu
Brown University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
36 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Providence, Rhode Island Private brown.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
35 SAT: 1120-1340
ACT: 25-32
Chicago, Illinois Public uic.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
35 SAT: 1330-1480
ACT: 29-32
Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
34 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28
Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
Miami University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
33 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 26-31
Oxford, Ohio Public miamioh.edu
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
33 SAT: 950-1170
ACT: 19-26
Johnson City, Tennessee Public etsu.edu
University of Utah (U of U)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
33 SAT: 1180-1398
ACT: 22-29
Salt Lake City, Utah Public utah.edu
University of Oregon (UO)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
32 SAT: 1130-1360
ACT: 22-30
Eugene, Oregon Public uoregon.edu
Yale University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
31 SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 33-35
New Haven, Connecticut Private yale.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
31 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 29-33
Amherst, Massachusetts Public umass.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
31 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-32
Buffalo, New York Public buffalo.edu
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
31 SAT: 1000-1230
ACT: 19-26
Murfreesboro, Tennessee Public mtsu.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
31 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32
Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
Master's
29 N/A Sacramento, California Public csus.edu
University of Florida (UF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
29 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 28-33
Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
Georgia State University
Bachelor's
29 SAT: 1040-1280
ACT: 19-26
Atlanta, Georgia Public gsu.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
29 SAT: 1270-1510
ACT: 29-34
Champaign, Illinois Public illinois.edu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
29 SAT: 1370-1530
ACT: 30-34
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Public unc.edu
Florida International University (FIU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
28 SAT: 1060-1250
ACT: 20-26
Miami, Florida Public fiu.edu
University of New Mexico (UNM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
28 SAT: 900-1160
ACT: 19-26
Albuquerque, New Mexico Public unm.edu
Boise State University (BBU)
Bachelor's
Master's
27 N/A Boise, Idaho Public boisestate.edu
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
Master's
Doctorate (R)
27 N/A New York, New York Public gc.cuny.edu
Oregon State University (OSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
27 N/A Corvallis, Oregon Public oregonstate.edu
University of Memphis (UofM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
27 SAT: 905-1205
ACT: 17-24
Memphis, Tennessee Public memphis.edu
West Virginia University (WVU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
27 SAT: 1010-1240
ACT: 20-26
Morgantown, West Virginia Public wvu.edu
Murray State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
26 SAT: 950-1190
ACT: 19-26
Murray, Kentucky Public murraystate.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
26 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 24-29
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Public lsu.edu
Rutgers University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
26 SAT: 1270-1480
ACT: 28-33
New Brunswick, New Jersey Public newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Bachelor's
Master's
25 N/A Flagstaff, Arizona Public nau.edu
Missouri State University
Bachelor's
Other Award
25 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 19-25
Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
Kent State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
25 SAT: 1000-1230
ACT: 18-25
Kent, Ohio Public kent.edu
Vanderbilt University (VU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
25 SAT: 1510-1560
ACT: 34-35
Nashville, Tennessee Private vanderbilt.edu
California State Polytechnic University (CPP)
Bachelor's
Master's
24 N/A Pomona, California Public cpp.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Bachelor's
Master's
24 N/A Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College
Bachelor's
Master's
24 SAT: 1140-1420 Brooklyn, New York Public brooklyn.cuny.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)
Bachelor's
Master's
24 SAT: 1100-1270
ACT: 24-28
West Chester, Pennsylvania Public wcupa.edu
University of Washington (UW)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
24 N/A Seattle, Washington Public washington.edu
The University of Alabama (UA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 24-31
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Public ua.edu
University of California (UCD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 N/A Davis, California Public ucdavis.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 N/A Reno, Nevada Public unr.edu
Binghamton University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 SAT: 1320-1490
ACT: 29-34
Vestal, New York Public binghamton.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private upenn.edu
The University of Tennessee
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 SAT: 1190-1340
ACT: 25-31
Knoxville, Tennessee Public utk.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
23 N/A Laramie, Wyoming Public uwyo.edu
Auburn University (AU)
Bachelor's
Master's
22 SAT: 1240-1380
ACT: 25-31
Auburn, Alabama Public auburn.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)
Bachelor's
22 SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 21-27
Boone, North Carolina Public appstate.edu
The University of Texas (UTSA)
Bachelor's
Master's
22 SAT: 1000-1200
ACT: 19-26
San Antonio, Texas Public utsa.edu
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
22 ACT: 18-24 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Public uwm.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
21 N/A Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
University of California (UCLA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 N/A Los Angeles, California Public ucla.edu
University of Iowa
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 SAT: 1130-1320
ACT: 22-28
Iowa City, Iowa Public uiowa.edu
Fort Hays State University (FHSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
21 SAT: 970-1200
ACT: 19-25
Hays, Kansas Public fhsu.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-29
Columbia, Missouri Public missouri.edu
Dartmouth College
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 33-35
Hanover, New Hampshire Private dartmouth.edu
Syracuse University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 SAT: 1260-1430
ACT: 28-32
Syracuse, New York Private syracuse.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 SAT: 1170-1410
ACT: 25-32
Richardson, Texas Public utdallas.edu
James Madison University (JMU)
Bachelor's
21 SAT: 1170-1320
ACT: 25-29
Harrisonburg, Virginia Public jmu.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWEC)
Bachelor's
Other Award
21 ACT: 21-27 Eau Claire, Wisconsin Public uwec.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRM)
Bachelor's
21 N/A Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Public uprm.edu
Indiana University (IUB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
20 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 27-32
Bloomington, Indiana Public indiana.edu
Kansas State University (K‑State)
Bachelor's
Master's
20 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 20-27
Manhattan, Kansas Public k-state.edu
Bowdoin College
Bachelor's
20 SAT: 1480-1550
ACT: 33-35
Brunswick, Maine Private bowdoin.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)
Bachelor's
Master's
20 SAT: 1050-1200
ACT: 20-26
Greenville, North Carolina Public ecu.edu
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Bachelor's
Master's
20 SAT: 1220-1360
ACT: 24-28
Wilmington, North Carolina Public uncw.edu
College of Charleston (CofC)
Bachelor's
20 SAT: 1130-1300
ACT: 24-29
Charleston, South Carolina Public cofc.edu
William & Mary (W&M)
Bachelor's
20 SAT: 1365-1510
ACT: 32-34
Williamsburg, Virginia Public wm.edu
Central Washington University (CWU)
Bachelor's
Master's
20 N/A Ellensburg, Washington Public cwu.edu
University of California (UCB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
19 N/A Berkeley, California Public berkeley.edu
University of California (UCR)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
19 N/A Riverside, California Public ucr.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
19 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31
Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
The University of Montana (UM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
19 ACT: 23-28 Missoula, Montana Public umt.edu
Princeton University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
19 SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 34-35
Princeton, New Jersey Private princeton.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Geology and Earth Science programs

How much can I earn with a Geology and Earth Science degree?

Salaries for Geology and Earth Science graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $101,390. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $164,650 compared to $73,813 in Louisiana. Approximately 150,290 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Geology and Earth Science programs?

Currently 435 accredited institutions offer Geology and Earth Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Mississippi State University (MSU) (147 graduates), Washington State University (WSU) (119 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (74 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Geology and Earth Science growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,124 in 2010 to a peak of 7,038 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,715 in 2023-24. This represents a 12% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Geology and Earth Science degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. Related occupations employ approximately 150,290 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

Related Physical Sciences Programs

Explore similar degree programs within the Physical Sciences field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.

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