What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences is tracked across 146 U.S. postsecondary institutions in the College Scorecard field-of-study file, which links CIP code classifications from IPEDS to Treasury earnings records. This profile covers the doctoral credential level specifically, because the Department of Education reports program-level outcomes separately for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards. The CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) taxonomy lets analysts roll up specialties into broader families, which is why earnings medians across schools can be compared on a common basis.
Across all reporting institutions, the mean of school-level medians is $84,075, calculated from 8 schools with published earnings data. The earnings distribution stretches from $45,529 at the low end to $120,024 at the top, with a 25th-75th percentile band between $63,005 and $100,332 around a median of $97,886. The top-reporting institution in this program is Stanford University at $120,024. These numbers reflect earnings measured roughly a year after completion, using Social Security Administration tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants.
Variation across schools matters more than a single national figure. Completers counts reported per school indicate how many graduates’ earnings feed the median, which means small programs produce more volatile numbers. Median debt at the program level, when paired with earnings, yields a debt-to-earnings ratio that is the College Scorecard’s standard affordability signal — ratios under 1.0 indicate earnings exceed cumulative debt. Use the school-by-school table to spot institutions where Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates out-earn peers at comparable cost, and to surface gainful-employment patterns that only become visible at the CIP-code level.
Stanford University accounts for 21.9% of all Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences doctoral credential graduates
That concentration — well above the 5% national median for largest-entity share — means Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. That school produced 30 graduates in the most recent cohort, anchoring a meaningful slice of national supply for this field. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences doctoral credential median earnings varies 2.6× across entities
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences doctoral credential median earnings ranges from $45,529 (lowest) to $120,024 (highest), a spread of $74,495. That spread reflects typical sectoral variation between selective research institutions and broader access institutions. Earnings are measured roughly one year after completion using IRS records linked to federal aid recipients (see https://www.irs.gov/) — not all completers are captured, but the school-level medians correlate strongly with longer-term earnings trajectories.
How much do Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn? ▼
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates earn $84,075 on average across 146 schools. Earnings range from $45,529 to $120,024 depending on the institution.
Which school pays the most for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences? ▼
Stanford University has the highest reported median earnings for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates at $120,024, based on College Scorecard data.
What credential do you get in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences? ▼
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs typically award a Doctoral credential. Earnings vary by school and credential level.
Top Schools for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Closest schools offering this program — compare earnings side by side
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Median earnings represent graduates who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants. Completers count and debt figures reflect program-level data reported through IPEDS. Data is updated annually.