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

Ames, IA. IPEDS 153603, CIP 40.06. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/geology-earth-science

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $50,150
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $65,204 (U.S. median for this major: $60,453 across 137 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $26,250 (U.S. median $25,000)
- Rank in IA: 1 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: +$4,751

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.32 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $65,204 minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $10,582 | $45,714 | 1.6 years |
| 30-48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | 1.7 years |
| 48-75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 2.3 years |
| 75-110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 3.0 years |
| 110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 3.4 years |

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

## Geology / Earth Science at IA colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | $65,204 | $26,250 | $18,589 | 75% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $46,986 | not reported | $15,901 | 68% |

## Careers
- Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121): median wage $116,540 Ames, IA, $109,760 IA, $167,220 U.S.; U.S. jobs 8.2% by 2035
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042): median wage not reported Ames, IA, $74,460 IA, $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).