# University of Wisconsin-Madison: Geology / Earth Science (bachelor's)

Madison, WI. IPEDS 240444, CIP 40.06. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/geology-earth-science

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $43,068
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $58,771 (U.S. median for this major: $60,453 across 137 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $25,000 (U.S. median $25,000)
- Rank in WI: 2 of 4 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the WI median for this major (4 colleges, $57,755): +$1,016
- Versus the U.S. median: -$1,682

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.2 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $58,771 minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $4,200 | $17,640 | under 1 year |
| 30-48k | $4,101 | $17,224 | under 1 year |
| 48-75k | $8,134 | $34,163 | 1.6 years |
| 75-110k | $17,763 | $74,605 | 3.5 years |
| 110k+ | $27,292 | $114,626 | 5.4 years |

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

## Geology / Earth Science at WI colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $63,838 | $27,000 | $15,014 | 49% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $58,771 | $25,000 | $17,354 | 90% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | $56,739 | $21,000 | $16,550 | 64% |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | $47,123 | $26,925 | $11,772 | 40% |

## Careers
- Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121): median wage $136,990 Madison, WI, $128,890 WI, $167,220 U.S.; U.S. jobs 8.2% by 2035
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042): median wage $84,520 Madison, WI, $78,610 WI, $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).