Bachelor's+5% vs national median451 grads tracked
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at West Virginia University
Ranked 41st of 160 bachelor's programs in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,755
middle 50%: $28,259 – $58,223
Median · 5 years out
$65,554
middle 50%: $47,243 – $89,103
Median · 10 years out
$87,005
middle 50%: $53,696 – $125,246
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
Geosciences majors earn $43k in their first year. Salaries rise to $87k 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
6.5 yrs
≈ $7,585 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Colorado Boulder
$67,213 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$66,937 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$66,619 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$66,562 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$65,410 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$65,048 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$64,899 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$64,845 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$64,746 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$64,338 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at West Virginia University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$156,627 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,069 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,321 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$128,840 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$122,766 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,203 · 5 yrs out