by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geological And Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their geological and earth sciences graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 31 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $68,645 annually.
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. University Of Georgia is a public school located in the city of Athens. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,486.
Georgia Southern University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Georgia Southern University is a public school located in the town of Statesboro. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of about $62,838 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from The University Of Alabama make a median of around $60,104 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Memphis one of the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Memphis make a median of around $54,728 per year.
College Of Charleston earned the #6 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. College Of Charleston is a public school located in the city of Charleston. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from College Of Charleston make a median of around $59,731 per year.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus typically earn about $61,397 annually.
Western Kentucky University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of about $53,567 a year early in their careers.
James Madison University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of James Madison University earn a median of about $56,834 a year early in their careers.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #10 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College typically earn about $64,709 annually.
East Carolina University earned the #11 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $68,235 per year.
Austin Peay State University earned the #12 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Austin Peay State University is a public school located in the city of Clarksville. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Austin Peay State University make a median of around $48,050 per year.
Florida State University landed the #13 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,442.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #14 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of about $67,959 a year early in their careers.
Mississippi State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Mississippi State University make a median of around $60,857 per year.
University Of Florida placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Florida make a median of around $53,189 per year.
University Of Florida Online ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida Online typically earn about $53,189 annually.
Auburn University came in at #18 for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,588.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of about $54,869 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,481.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,280.
University Of New Orleans earned the #22 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of New Orleans is a public school located in the city of New Orleans. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,590.
Georgia State University earned the #23 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. Georgia State University is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of about $58,338 a year early in their careers.
Appalachian State University landed the #24 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of about $52,194 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Students who complete the geological and earth sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,923.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning geological and earth sciences graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 31 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.
