Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt & careers

Geology / Earth Science graduates of Lehigh University earn a median $72,978 four years after graduating, with median federal loan debt of $19,707. That is $12,525 above the U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates ($60,453 across 137 colleges), and ranks 3rd of 11 Pennsylvania colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$72,978

U.S. median for this major: $60,453.

College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
—

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$19,707

About 27% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$36,931 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $80,856. College Scorecard.

Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Lehigh University graduates$72,978
Pennsylvania median (12 colleges)$57,502 (+$15,476)
U.S. median (137 colleges)$60,453 (+$12,525)

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 Lehigh University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$16,917$69,3601.9 years
$30–48k$17,140$70,2741.9 years
$48–75k$18,722$76,7602.1 years
$75–110k$22,184$90,9542.4 years
$110k+$48,751$199,8795.4 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (81% 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 ($72,978) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $37,181 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 Pennsylvania colleges

Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver$81,092$26,000$17,41822%
2Pennsylvania State University$81,092$26,000$32,87586%
3Lehigh University$72,978$19,707$36,93188%
4Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$60,075$29,725$15,69954%
5Pennsylvania Western University$57,549—$18,25652%
6University of Pittsburgh-Bradford$57,456$26,000$15,35048%
7University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown$57,456$26,000$18,20256%
8University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$57,456$26,000$30,43486%
9Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania$56,402$27,937$19,60866%
10Indiana University of Pennsylvania$56,380—$16,80456%
11Kutztown University of Pennsylvania$52,378$26,334$21,33154%

22 more Pennsylvania colleges offer Geology / Earth Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Geology / Earth Science graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Allentown area$129,920
Pennsylvania$137,900
U.S.$167,220

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Allentown area$75,400
Pennsylvania$84,180
U.S.$101,920

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 Lehigh University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Lehigh University

Related majors at Lehigh University

  • Chemistry—
  • Physics—
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics—

Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science questions

How much do Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?

Geology / Earth Science graduates of Lehigh University earn a median $72,978 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates across 137 colleges is $60,453.

How much debt do Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Geology / Earth Science graduates of Lehigh University is $19,707, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.

Is Lehigh University a good school for Geology / Earth Science in Pennsylvania?

On pay, Geology / Earth Science graduates of Lehigh University earn $72,978 four years out, $15,476 above the median for the same major across 12 Pennsylvania colleges ($57,502) and $12,525 above the U.S. median ($60,453). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does Lehigh University rank for Geology / Earth Science in Pennsylvania?

Of 11 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, Lehigh University ranks 3rd. The highest is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver at $81,092.

What jobs do Geology / Earth Science graduates get?

A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $129,920 in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 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
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Cite this: “Lehigh University Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/lehigh-university/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).