Bachelor's-5% vs national median189 grads tracked
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 91st of 160 bachelor's programs in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$41,278
middle 50%: $30,380 – $53,374
Median · 5 years out
$59,550
middle 50%: $50,441 – $73,820
Median · 10 years out
$75,704
middle 50%: $58,758 – $96,448
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Geological and Earth Sciences graduates from Northern Illinois University see a median first-year salary of $41k. Earnings reach $76k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7 yrs
≈ $8,168 total interest
Same major at other universities
State University of New York at New Paltz
$60,144 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$60,013 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$59,953 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$59,517 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$59,476 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$59,291 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$59,022 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$58,910 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,179 · 5 yrs out