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. The highest-paying schools turn a geological and earth sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find where geological and earth sciences graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose geological and earth sciences graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Pacific Lutheran University the top school for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings in Washington. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University 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 $63,740.
Eastern Washington University came in at #2 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.
A rank of #3 makes Central Washington University one of the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Central Washington University typically earn about $55,728 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington State University earned it the #4 place for geological and earth sciences. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Washington State University typically earn about $65,534 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #5 place for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,604.
Western Washington University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $56,680 annually.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Washington Bothell Campus make a median of around $61,331 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries geological and earth sciences graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 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.