by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geological And Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study geological and earth sciences affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Geological And Earth Sciences Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose geological and earth sciences degrees pay off the most.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Geological And Earth Sciences Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send geological and earth sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
California State University Sacramento tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools in the United States. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,480.
Strong graduate earnings at Lehigh University earned it the #2 place for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Lehigh University make a median of around $80,740 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at Union College New York, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,195.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,453.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at University Of Houston, which ranked #5. University Of Houston is a public school located in the city of Houston. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Houston typically earn about $71,224 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $68,645 a year early in their careers.
University Of Georgia landed the #7 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. University Of Georgia is a public school located in the city of Athens. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of about $67,486 a year early in their careers.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #8 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Brigham Young University Provo make a median of around $65,491 per year.
Florida State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Florida State University typically earn about $63,830 annually.
Pacific Lutheran University landed the #10 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Pacific Lutheran University make a median of around $63,740 per year.
Georgia Southern University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Georgia Southern University typically earn about $62,838 annually.
Temple University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Temple University is a public school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $61,968 annually.
Eastern Washington University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Eastern Washington University is a public school located in the town of Cheney. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Eastern Washington University typically earn about $61,402 annually.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $61,088 per year.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #15 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of about $60,999 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama landed the #16 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Alabama typically earn about $60,104 annually.
Sam Houston State University earned the #17 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $56,612 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #18 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,906.
University Of Wyoming landed the #19 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. University Of Wyoming is a public school located in the town of Laramie. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,082.
Central Washington University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,728.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #21 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public school located in the city of Odessa. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin typically earn about $55,699 annually.
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #22 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Suny College At Oneonta is a public school located in the town of Oneonta. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta typically earn about $55,666 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #23 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,711.
Idaho State University earned the #24 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,944.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #25 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins typically earn about $75,612 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid geological and earth sciences ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their geological and earth sciences graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
