Bachelor's-8% vs national median139 grads tracked
Geological/Geophysical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ranked 4th of 7 bachelor's programs in Geological/Geophysical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$68,758
middle 50%: $49,445 – $89,880
Median · 5 years out
$81,671
middle 50%: $63,346 – $102,996
Median · 10 years out
$110,004
middle 50%: $79,157 – $136,354
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Geological/Geophysical Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Geological Engineering graduates from South Dakota School of Mines earn $69k in their first year. Ten-year median salaries reach $110k.
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
4.8 yrs
≈ $5,047 total interest
Same major at other universities
Colorado School of Mines
$91,128 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$85,454 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$78,709 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$74,110 · 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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