# Appalachian State University: Geology / Earth Science (bachelor's)

Boone, NC. IPEDS 197869, CIP 40.06. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university/majors/geology-earth-science

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $35,021
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $53,269 (U.S. median for this major: $60,453 across 137 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $22,853 (U.S. median $25,000)
- Rank in NC: 3 of 4 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the NC median for this major (4 colleges, $56,842): -$3,573
- Versus the U.S. median: -$7,184

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.23 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $53,269 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $9,325 | $39,445 | 2.0 years |
| 30-48k | $11,600 | $49,068 | 2.5 years |
| 48-75k | $15,204 | $64,313 | 3.3 years |
| 75-110k | $20,840 | $88,153 | 4.5 years |
| 110k+ | $22,382 | $94,676 | 4.8 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Geology / Earth Science at NC colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $61,023 | $22,234 | $17,303 | 85% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $60,414 | $26,000 | $20,109 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | $53,269 | $22,853 | $16,836 | 75% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $53,247 | $24,897 | $15,435 | 69% |

## Careers
- Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121): median wage not reported metro, $173,870 NC, $167,220 U.S.; U.S. jobs 8.2% by 2035
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042): median wage not reported metro, $95,260 NC, $101,920 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.1% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).