U.S. median for this major: $60,453.
College Scorecard field of study; 40 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 48% 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 $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Geology / Earth Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | 1.0 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 1.6 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 2.4 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% 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 ($62,448) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,037 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Michigan State University | $62,448 | $29,869 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University | $61,868 | $28,750 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $60,949 | $17,875 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 4 | Western Michigan University | $58,164 | — | $15,273 | 58% |
| 5 | Central Michigan University | $57,438 | $31,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 6 | Wayne State University | $57,203 | — | $12,766 | 58% |
| 7 | Lake Superior State University | $56,905 | — | $12,822 | 51% |
8 more Michigan 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Chemistry$65,983
- Physics—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Physical Sciences—
MSU Geology / Earth Science questions
How much do MSU Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?
Geology / Earth Science graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $62,448 four years after graduating and $39,997 one year after. The U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates across 137 colleges is $60,453.
How much debt do MSU Geology / Earth Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geology / Earth Science graduates of Michigan State University is $29,869, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is MSU a good school for Geology / Earth Science in Michigan?
On pay, Geology / Earth Science graduates of Michigan State University earn $62,448 four years out, $4,284 above the median for the same major across 7 Michigan colleges ($58,164) and $1,995 above the U.S. median ($60,453). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Geology / Earth Science in Michigan?
Of 7 Michigan colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Geology / Earth Science graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $109,280 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI 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: “Michigan State University Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).