U.S. median for this major: $60,453.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 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 34% 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 $33,642. College Scorecard.
UIUC 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 UIUC'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 | $2,038 | $8,458 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $5,373 | $22,298 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $7,982 | $33,125 | 1.0 years |
| $75–110k | $15,152 | $62,881 | 1.9 years |
| $110k+ | $28,761 | $119,358 | 3.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% 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 ($68,201) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,404 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $68,201 | $23,250 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago | $61,206 | $27,000 | $10,974 | 62% |
| 3 | Illinois State University | $53,272 | — | $19,398 | 65% |
12 more Illinois 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 UIUC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UIUC
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 85% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $81,054
- Full cost breakdown · all 102 majors · overview
Related majors at UIUC
- Chemistry$70,197
- Physics$81,077
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$71,425
UIUC Geology / Earth Science questions
How much do UIUC Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?
Geology / Earth Science graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median $68,201 four years after graduating and $38,867 one year after. The U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates across 137 colleges is $60,453.
How much debt do UIUC Geology / Earth Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geology / Earth Science graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $23,250, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is UIUC a good school for Geology / Earth Science in Illinois?
On pay, Geology / Earth Science graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn $68,201 four years out, $6,995 above the median for the same major across 3 Illinois colleges ($61,206) and $7,748 above the U.S. median ($60,453). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does UIUC rank for Geology / Earth Science in Illinois?
Of 3 Illinois colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Geology / Earth Science graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $107,630 in the Champaign-Urbana, IL 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: “University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).