U.S. median for this major: $60,453.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 41% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,362. College Scorecard.
College of Charleston Geology / Earth Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 South Carolina colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Geology / Earth Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses College of Charleston's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,133 | $50,473 | 1.7 years |
| $30–48k | $13,406 | $55,769 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $16,797 | $69,876 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $20,089 | $83,570 | 2.7 years |
| $110k+ | $24,996 | $103,983 | 3.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (56% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Geology / Earth Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($63,993) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $30,477 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Geology / Earth Science at South Carolina colleges
Every South Carolina college we cover that reports Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $70,284 | $26,500 | $22,811 | 79% |
| 2 | College of Charleston | $63,993 | $26,500 | $18,960 | 66% |
3 more South Carolina colleges offer Geology / Earth Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Geology / Earth Science graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at College of Charleston, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About College of Charleston
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 66% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,416
- Full cost breakdown · all 56 majors · overview
Related majors at College of Charleston
- Chemistry—
- Physics—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
College of Charleston Geology / Earth Science questions
How much do College of Charleston Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?
Geology / Earth Science graduates of College of Charleston earn a median $63,993 four years after graduating and $49,786 one year after. The U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates across 137 colleges is $60,453.
How much debt do College of Charleston Geology / Earth Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geology / Earth Science graduates of College of Charleston is $26,500, about 41% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does College of Charleston rank for Geology / Earth Science in South Carolina?
Of 2 South Carolina colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, College of Charleston ranks 2nd. The highest is University of South Carolina-Columbia at $70,284.
What jobs do Geology / Earth Science graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $132,660 in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC area and $167,220 nationally. Others include geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “College of Charleston Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/college-of-charleston/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).