by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 306 degrees and certificates in Geoscience Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Geoscience Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,515 one year after completing, rising to $85,307 after four years.
If you are interested in developing buildings that can withstand hurricane force winds or build tunnels that go miles through the sides of mountains, Geoscience Engineering is for you.
Those who have a degree in Geoscience Engineering collaborate with builders on major construction projects, help develop environmental clean-up plans, and play a role in reducing the damage caused by natural hazards. To gain these skills, students take classes that cover topics such as physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, geology, and computer science.
A degree in Geoscience Engineering explores Geological/geophysical Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, geoscience engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 306 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award geoscience engineering degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 145.
By level, the 306 awards include 1 associate degrees, 118 bachelor’s degrees, 180 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 33% of geoscience engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (102 of 306). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (196) and Hispanic or Latino (44), and international students earned 19.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Geoscience Engineering Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks geoscience engineering schools within 2 states. In all, 19 colleges offer geoscience engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Geoscience Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common geoscience engineering credential is the master’s degree: 180 of the 306 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to geoscience engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Geoscience Engineering majors spend much of their time developing ways to improve the way people use land and natural resources. They may determine where to put in a dam or tunnel, the best way to harvest natural resources, or how to build buildings that can withstand earthquakes; this makes problem solving and ingenuity required skills. Students should also have strong critical thinking and analysis, and be able to work well in a team. Successful students often have a background in mathematics and physical sciences.
Geoscience Engineering Professionals often work full time in an office environment. While they may travel to site for observation, most professionals use computers and information software to analyze data and complete projects.
This career is very experience and field oriented. Student should pursue internships or summer jobs within the field while working towards their degree. Some colleges will offer summer field study programs where students can travel to different parts of the country to gain relevant experience.
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How long a geoscience engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 118 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 180 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to geoscience engineering, at 32.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Geoscience Engineering, with an average median salary of $96,017; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Petroleum Engineering Teacher, Adjunct Instructor and Highway Engineering Teacher.
Geoscience Engineering graduates work at a variety of locations, often within the construction or architecture fields. Since graduates are knowledgeable about many aspects of the environment and how they interact with human engineering, there are many career options available.
The occupation related to geoscience engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 259,417 | 6.2% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
Geoscience Engineering graduates earn a median $70,515 one year after completing their program, $85,307 after four years and $90,120 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,515 |
| 4 years | $85,307 |
| 5 years | $90,120 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to geoscience engineering is Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, with a median salary of $138,303.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $138,303 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
Geoscience Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Geological/Geophysical Engineering (306). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,729 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 306 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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