by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 87 U.S. colleges awarded 960 degrees and certificates in Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,327 one year after completing, rising to $65,518 after four years.
A degree in Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences covers Geological And Earth Sciences/geosciences, Other. Any Instructional Program In Geological And Related Sciences Not Listed Above. Examples: [Geodetics], [Geodesy].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., other geological & earth sciences/geosciences draws strong interest, with 960 degrees awarded annually. 87 colleges award other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 133.
By level, the 960 awards include 10 certificates, 676 bachelor’s degrees, 236 master’s degrees and 38 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (503 of 960). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (638) and Hispanic or Latino (90), and international students earned 79.
College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools ranking, including 23 for bachelor’s degrees and 8 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools within 14 states. In all, 87 colleges offer other geological & earth sciences/geosciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other geological & earth sciences/geosciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 676 of the 960 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other geological & earth sciences/geosciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 676 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 236 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 38 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, at 31.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.1% |
| Master’s degree | 28.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences, with an average median salary of $110,835; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Oceanography Professor.
The occupation related to other geological & earth sciences/geosciences with the most projected jobs is Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 615,002.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 150,428 | 4.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn a median $43,327 one year after completing their program, $65,518 after four years and $63,299 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,327 |
| 4 years | $65,518 |
| 5 years | $63,299 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to other geological & earth sciences/geosciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $58,500 |
Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences has 6 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 6,753 degrees a year; the largest are Geology/Earth Science, General (5,781), Oceanography, Chemical and Physical (543) and Hydrology and Water Resources Science (210). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geology/Earth Science, General | 5,781 |
| Oceanography, Chemical and Physical | 543 |
| Hydrology and Water Resources Science | 210 |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 173 |
| Geochemistry | 25 |
| Paleontology | 21 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
