Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates from Western Washington University earn $67,208 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $22,969.

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington • Bachelor's

Median Earnings
$67,208
Graduates earn above the national average for this program

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Western Washington University

This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western Washington University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences 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 52 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western Washington University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.

Median graduate earnings of $67,208 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 $52,475 across all institutions offering Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western Washington University, the mean median-earnings figure is $59,281, 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 and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates at Western Washington University is $22,969, which translates to roughly $191 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 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

This School
$67,208
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
National Average
$52,475
All schools, same program
School Average
$59,281
All programs at Western Washington University

Program Details

Bachelor's
Credential Level
52
Completers (IPEDS)
456
Schools Offering

Debt & ROI

$22,969
Median Debt
0.34
Debt-to-Earnings (Favorable)
$191/mo
Est. Monthly Payment
$67,208
Median Earnings

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.