Geological/Geophysical Engineering graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn $88,484 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $27,000.
Geological/Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Geological/Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Colorado School of Mines and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Geological/Geophysical Engineering at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 72 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Colorado School of Mines, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $88,484 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $78,187 across all institutions offering Geological/Geophysical Engineering, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Colorado School of Mines, the mean median-earnings figure is $97,095, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Geological/Geophysical Engineering graduates at Colorado School of Mines is $27,000, which translates to roughly $225 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Geological/Geophysical Engineering at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Technological University | $93,629 | — |
| Colorado School of Mines (this school) | $88,484 | $27,000 |
| Michigan Technological University | $81,862 | $23,198 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | $78,079 | — |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $75,779 | — |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | $75,259 | $19,249 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $73,337 | — |
| University of Mississippi | $59,070 | $19,500 |
Other Programs at Colorado School of Mines
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $147,702 | $20,500 |
| Computer Science | $127,217 | $22,500 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $123,855 | $23,150 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $116,691 | $26,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $115,085 | $30,500 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $109,695 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $109,407 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $106,012 | $21,500 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $102,007 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | $98,190 | $21,500 |
Other Schools with Geological/Geophysical Engineering
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.