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 45% 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 $25,905. College Scorecard.
MSU Geology / Earth Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana 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 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 | $17,797 | $79,019 | 5.0 years |
| $30–48k | $18,570 | $82,451 | 5.2 years |
| $48–75k | $21,977 | $97,578 | 6.2 years |
| $75–110k | $24,732 | $109,810 | 7.0 years |
| $110k+ | $25,905 | $115,018 | 7.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($49,241) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,725 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.
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: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 57% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,263
- Full cost breakdown · all 59 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Chemistry—
- Physics—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
MSU Geology / Earth Science questions
How much do MSU Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?
Geology / Earth Science graduates of Montana State University earn a median $49,241 four years after graduating and $29,030 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 Montana State University is $22,250, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does MSU rank for Geology / Earth Science in Montana?
Of 1 Montana colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, Montana 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 $122,930 in the Bozeman, MT 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: “Montana State University Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/montana-state-university/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).