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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the early-career earnings of their geological and earth sciences graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send geological and earth sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Iowa State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Iowa State University make a median of around $54,750 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $60,625 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Wichita State University earned it the #3 place for geological and earth sciences. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of about $48,647 a year early in their careers.
Winona State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Winona State University typically earn about $66,073 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in geological and earth sciences will find them at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Missouri University Of Science And Technology make a median of around $47,352 per year.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #6 position for geological and earth sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Geological And Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of about $47,197 a year early in their careers.
Fort Hays State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Fort Hays State University typically earn about $43,421 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geological and earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, geological and earth sciences degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $55,371 annually.
University Of Kansas landed the #9 spot for geological and earth sciences salaries this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from University Of Kansas make a median of around $41,626 per year.
Carleton College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for geological and earth sciences. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career geological and earth sciences graduates from Carleton College make a median of around $40,371 per year.
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 · 10 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.
