WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median116 grads tracked

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Ranked 129th of 160 bachelor's programs in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,048
middle 50%: $27,670 – $54,615
Median · 5 years out
$54,333
middle 50%: $37,788 – $73,442
Median · 10 years out
$74,586
middle 50%: $67,570 – $89,527

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

Graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's bachelor's program in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences earn a median $39,048 one year after graduating, rising to $74,586 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $62,446 for this field, ranking 129th of 160 reporting programs.

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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,857 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of South Carolina - Columbia
$55,888 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$55,817 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$55,647 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$55,355 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$54,955 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$54,869 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$54,319 · 5 yrs out
Carleton College
$54,306 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$54,227 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Sul Ross State University
$53,767 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$116,180 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,340 · 5 yrs out
Metallurgical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$108,882 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$108,803 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$104,398 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$101,236 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$101,165 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$99,134 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$98,571 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$98,571 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Certificate)
$97,802 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$97,530 · 5 yrs out

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