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Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Master's Degree•187 Institutions
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.
Annual Full Cost vs. Median Earnings
Each dot represents one program at an institution. Shows the spread of annual sticker price (or net price if sticker price is unavailable) vs earnings 4 years post-grad.
Field Median ($81,702)
P25-P75 Interval ($52,107 - $97,545)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution | State | Earnings | Avg Net Price | Median Debt | Lifetime Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Norman | OK | $164,523 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $15,300 /yr | - | +$771k |
Fort Worth | TX | $135,393 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $36,660 /yr | - | +$528k |
Houston | TX | $110,277 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $14,276 /yr | $34,875 | +$304k |
Lafayette | LA | $106,248 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $13,530 /yr | $20,500 | +$270k |
Golden | CO | $109,407 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $28,690 /yr | - | +$270k |
El Paso | TX | $99,705 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $9,403 /yr | - | +$220k |
Fresno | CA | $97,545 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $7,000 /yr | - | +$206k |
College Station | TX | $96,433 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $21,315 /yr | $32,799 | +$170k |
Butte | MT | $91,662 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $16,481 /yr | - | +$137k |
Mississippi State | MS | $86,410 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $17,595 /yr | $29,609 | +$89k |
Austin | TX | $81,702 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $19,857 /yr | - | +$72k |
Wilmington | NC | $84,961 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $20,109 /yr | - | +$72k |
Kingston | RI | $83,661 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $21,440 /yr | - | +$58k |
Tuscaloosa | AL | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,420 /yr | - | -$0 |
Auburn | AL | - Nat: $79,463 | $24,323 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of Alaska Fairbanks ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Fairbanks | AK | - Nat: $79,463 | $10,892 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tempe | AZ | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,967 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tucson | AZ | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,674 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pasadena | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,075 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bakersfield | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $5,652 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Bernardino | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $4,564 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pomona | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $11,531 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chico | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,480 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fullerton | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $6,555 /yr | - | -$0 |
Long Beach | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $10,440 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $3,967 /yr | - | -$0 |
Northridge | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $7,021 /yr | - | -$0 |
Sacramento | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $9,338 /yr | - | -$0 |
Berkeley | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,481 /yr | - | -$0 |
Davis | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,741 /yr | - | -$0 |
Irvine | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,251 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,548 /yr | - | -$0 |
Riverside | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,304 /yr | - | -$0 |
La Jolla | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,470 /yr | - | -$0 |
Santa Barbara | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,109 /yr | - | -$0 |
Santa Cruz | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,890 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Diego | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,364 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Francisco | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,278 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $32,740 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boulder | CO | - Nat: $79,463 | $25,346 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fort Collins | CO | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,279 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greeley | CO | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,760 /yr | - | -$0 |
Storrs | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $25,097 /yr | - | -$0 |
Danbury | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,604 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | DE | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,799 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boca Raton | FL | - Nat: $79,463 | $8,752 /yr | - | -$0 |
Florida Institute of Technology ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Melbourne | FL | - Nat: $79,463 | $35,639 /yr | - | -$0 |
Miami | FL | - Nat: $79,463 | $9,288 /yr | - | -$0 |
Gainesville | FL | - Nat: $79,463 | $6,541 /yr | - | -$0 |
Coral Gables | FL | - Nat: $79,463 | $37,244 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,116 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | GA | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Honolulu | HI | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,664 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boise | ID | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,610 /yr | - | -$0 |
Moscow | ID | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,831 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,860 /yr | - | -$0 |
Champaign | IL | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,355 /yr | - | -$0 |
Normal | IL | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,398 /yr | - | -$0 |
Dekalb | IL | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,391 /yr | - | -$0 |
Carbondale | IL | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,297 /yr | - | -$0 |
Muncie | IN | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,940 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indianapolis | IN | - Nat: $79,463 | $11,668 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indiana State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Terre Haute | IN | - Nat: $79,463 | $10,873 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bloomington | IN | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,264 /yr | - | -$0 |
Iowa City | IA | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,531 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fort Hays State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Hays | KS | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,569 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lawrence | KS | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,059 /yr | - | -$0 |
Manhattan | KS | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,406 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lexington | KY | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,851 /yr | - | -$0 |
Murray | KY | - Nat: $79,463 | $9,096 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of New Orleans ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. New Orleans | LA | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,384 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Orleans | LA | - Nat: $79,463 | $39,949 /yr | - | -$0 |
Orono | ME | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,510 /yr | - | -$0 |
College Park | MD | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,678 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chestnut Hill | MA | - Nat: $79,463 | $41,704 /yr | - | -$0 |
Amherst | MA | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,383 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cambridge | MA | - Nat: $79,463 | $20,111 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ann Arbor | MI | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,138 /yr | - | -$0 |
East Lansing | MI | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,680 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houghton | MI | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,182 /yr | - | -$0 |
Detroit | MI | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,766 /yr | - | -$0 |
Minneapolis | MN | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,778 /yr | - | -$0 |
Duluth | MN | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,743 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hattiesburg | MS | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,708 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | MO | - Nat: $79,463 | $20,268 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kansas City | MO | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,310 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rolla | MO | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,298 /yr | - | -$0 |
Saint Louis | MO | - Nat: $79,463 | $24,398 /yr | - | -$0 |
Springfield | MO | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,613 /yr | - | -$0 |
The University of Montana ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Missoula | MT | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,784 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lincoln | NE | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,747 /yr | - | -$0 |
Las Vegas | NV | - Nat: $79,463 | $10,359 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hanover | NH | - Nat: $79,463 | $29,519 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NH | - Nat: $79,463 | $23,805 /yr | - | -$0 |
Montclair | NJ | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,566 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Brunswick | NJ | - Nat: $79,463 | $24,406 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | NJ | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,703 /yr | - | -$0 |
Socorro | NM | - Nat: $79,463 | $9,873 /yr | - | -$0 |
Albuquerque | NM | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,489 /yr | - | -$0 |
Las Cruces | NM | - Nat: $79,463 | $8,889 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ithaca | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $28,690 /yr | - | -$0 |
Brooklyn | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $3,103 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $3,776 /yr | - | -$0 |
Queens | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $4,195 /yr | - | -$0 |
Troy | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $36,228 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rochester | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $29,278 /yr | - | -$0 |
Vestal | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,620 /yr | - | -$0 |
Buffalo | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $20,995 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stony Brook | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,784 /yr | - | -$0 |
SUNY Buffalo State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Buffalo | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $11,346 /yr | - | -$0 |
Syracuse | NY | - Nat: $79,463 | $38,793 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greenville | NC | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,739 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chapel Hill | NC | - Nat: $79,463 | $11,655 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlotte | NC | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,435 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NC | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,359 /yr | - | -$0 |
Grand Forks | ND | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,551 /yr | - | -$0 |
Akron | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,946 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bowling Green | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $24,022 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cincinnati | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $25,648 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kent | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $20,787 /yr | - | -$0 |
Oxford | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $28,384 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbus | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,339 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,637 /yr | - | -$0 |
Toledo | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,249 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wright State University-Main Campus ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Dayton | OH | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,415 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stillwater | OK | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,447 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tulsa | OK | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,000 /yr | - | -$0 |
Corvallis | OR | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,604 /yr | - | -$0 |
Eugene | OR | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,182 /yr | - | -$0 |
Portland State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Portland | OR | - Nat: $79,463 | $9,552 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bethlehem | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $36,931 /yr | - | -$0 |
University Park | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $32,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $28,699 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pittsburgh | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $30,434 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $28,198 /yr | - | -$0 |
West Chester | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $23,331 /yr | - | -$0 |
Clemson | SC | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,253 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | SC | - Nat: $79,463 | $22,811 /yr | - | -$0 |
Conway | SC | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,966 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rapid City | SD | - Nat: $79,463 | $20,183 /yr | - | -$0 |
Johnson City | TN | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,983 /yr | - | -$0 |
Memphis | TN | - Nat: $79,463 | $12,397 /yr | - | -$0 |
Knoxville | TN | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,976 /yr | - | -$0 |
Nashville | TN | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,846 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waco | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $41,104 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wichita Falls | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $11,656 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,370 /yr | - | -$0 |
Dallas | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $40,892 /yr | - | -$0 |
Nacogdoches | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,260 /yr | - | -$0 |
Sul Ross State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Alpine | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,286 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lubbock | TX | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,070 /yr | - | -$0 |
Provo | UT | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,564 /yr | - | -$0 |
Logan | UT | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Salt Lake City | UT | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,200 /yr | - | -$0 |
Burlington | VT | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,343 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fairfax | VA | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Norfolk | VA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,638 /yr | - | -$0 |
Blacksburg | VA | - Nat: $79,463 | $24,953 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ellensburg | WA | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,476 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pullman | WA | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,971 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bellingham | WA | - Nat: $79,463 | $21,193 /yr | - | -$0 |
Morgantown | WV | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,634 /yr | - | -$0 |
Madison | WI | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,354 /yr | - | -$0 |
Milwaukee | WI | - Nat: $79,463 | $15,014 /yr | - | -$0 |
Laramie | WY | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,599 /yr | - | -$0 |
Mayaguez | PR | - Nat: $79,463 | $17,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stanford | CA | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
West Lafayette | IN | - Nat: $79,463 | $14,600 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waterbury | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $10,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Groton | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stamford | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,798 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bend | OR | - Nat: $79,463 | $18,048 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hartford | CT | - Nat: $79,463 | $16,403 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. University Park | PA | - Nat: $79,463 | $19,550 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | $74,484 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $15,931 /yr | - | -$13k |
Baton Rouge | LA | $73,636 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $19,151 /yr | - | -$26k |
San Antonio | TX | $62,489 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $10,836 /yr | - | -$87k |
Richardson | TX | $63,901 Nat: $79,463 4yr Post-Grad | $18,267 /yr | - | -$110k |
Seattle | WA | $59,485 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $14,091 /yr | - | -$121k |
Reno | NV | $54,713 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $15,927 /yr | - | -$170k |
Bozeman | MT | $52,107 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $22,499 /yr | - | -$208k |
Kalamazoo | MI | $49,436 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $15,273 /yr | - | -$221k |
Flagstaff | AZ | $45,696 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $14,158 /yr | - | -$257k |
Tampa | FL | $41,937 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $9,812 /yr | - | -$287k |
Fayetteville | AR | $43,426 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $18,209 /yr | - | -$287k |
Tallahassee | FL | $38,289 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $11,297 /yr | - | -$327k |
Pocatello | ID | $38,289 Nat: $79,463 2yr Post-Grad | $12,193 /yr | - | -$329k |
Analysis Notes:
- Lifetime Value Added: Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median bachelor's degree holder, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes.
- Avg Net Price: The average price paid by students who receive federal financial aid (grants/loans).Note: For graduate programs, the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition and net price.
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.