Best Colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Geological and Earth Sciences programs prepare students to study our planet's physical structure, processes, and history. With 158 schools offering this major nationwide, prospective students should prioritize programs with strong field work components, modern laboratory facilities, and faculty research opportunities. Look for curricula that balance classroom theory with hands-on geological mapping, mineral identification, and data analysis skills. Access to internships with government agencies, environmental consulting firms, or energy companies proves valuable for career development. Programs near diverse geological formations offer natural laboratories for learning. Graduates typically earn around $35,482 annually in entry-level positions, with potential for growth in sectors including environmental consulting, natural resource exploration, and geological surveying as experience increases.

Schools Ranked

$47,038

Avg. Program Earnings

64.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	$61,020	89.2%	private-nonprofit
2	Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania	$57,318	88.1%	private-nonprofit
3	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$55,512	55.8%	public
4	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$53,358	89.3%	public
5	Kean University Union, New Jersey	$52,107	43.4%	public
6	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$50,856	69.9%	public
7	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$50,439	54.8%	public
8	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$47,260	65.9%	public
9	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$47,260	87.6%	public
10	University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota	$45,918	63.3%	public
11	Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia	$45,696	52.1%	public
12	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, Colorado	$45,618	66.9%	public
13	University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada	$44,971	62.4%	public
14	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$44,971	54.0%	public
15	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$44,384	62.6%	public
16	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$43,798	50.1%	public
17	Winona State University Winona, Minnesota	$43,426	60.9%	public
18	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$43,128	56.5%	public
19	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$42,774	63.6%	public
20	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, Missouri	$42,728	57.3%	public
21	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$42,682	66.7%	public
22	Union College Schenectady, New York	$42,682	85.3%	private-nonprofit
23	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$42,682	63.7%	public
24	Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, Pennsylvania	$42,682	54.4%	public
25	Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas	$42,682	51.2%	public