by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geological And Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. 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 13 schools to find where geological and earth sciences graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send geological and earth sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in geological and earth sciences, no school beat University Of Houston this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Houston typically earn about $110,977 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at Colorado School Of Mines, which ranked #2. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines typically earn about $99,218 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #3 place for geological and earth sciences. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus typically earn about $86,497 annually.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $83,481 per year.
California State University Fresno came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,116.
East Carolina University came in at #6 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,252.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $77,881 per year.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Louisiana Lafayette make a median of around $67,959 per year.
Mississippi State University came in at #9 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of about $68,809 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #10 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,546.
University Of Arizona landed the #11 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Arizona typically earn about $65,268 annually.
Florida State University landed the #12 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. 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 $59,253 annually.
Georgia State University came in at #13 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,298.
Explore the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 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.