U.S. median for this major: $60,453.
College Scorecard field of study; 60 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 39% 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 $30,359. College Scorecard.
Western Washington University 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 Western Washington University'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 | $12,915 | $57,213 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | 2.9 years |
| $75–110k | $24,301 | $107,653 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $27,984 | $123,969 | 4.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($67,208) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,989 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Western Washington University | $67,208 | $26,158 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $66,845 | $20,500 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $66,845 | $20,500 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 4 | Pacific Lutheran University | $58,472 | — | $19,589 | 69% |
| 5 | Central Washington University | $53,987 | — | $18,476 | 54% |
| 6 | Washington State University | $45,002 | $22,905 | $14,971 | 61% |
3 more Washington 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 Western Washington University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,569
- Full cost breakdown · all 97 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Washington University
- Chemistry$55,793
- Physics$63,833
Western Washington University Geology / Earth Science questions
How much do Western Washington University Geology / Earth Science graduates earn?
Geology / Earth Science graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $67,208 four years after graduating and $36,802 one year after. The U.S. median for Geology / Earth Science graduates across 137 colleges is $60,453.
How much debt do Western Washington University Geology / Earth Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geology / Earth Science graduates of Western Washington University is $26,158, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Western Washington University a good school for Geology / Earth Science in Washington?
On pay, Geology / Earth Science graduates of Western Washington University earn $67,208 four years out, $4,550 above the median for the same major across 6 Washington colleges ($62,658) and $6,755 above the U.S. median ($60,453). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Geology / Earth Science in Washington?
Of 6 Washington colleges reporting Geology / Earth Science graduate earnings, Western Washington 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 $134,220 in the Bellingham, WA 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: “Western Washington University Geology / Earth Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/geology-earth-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).