Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Appalachian State University

At first glance, Appalachian State's geosciences program appears to underperform—graduates earn $35,021 initially, placing them in just the 19th percentile nationally. But that entry figure tells an incomplete story. Within four years, median earnings climb to $47,131, a 35% jump that suggests graduates are breaking into better-paying positions after gaining field experience. The debt load of $22,853 is actually slightly below both state and national medians, giving graduates breathing room while they establish themselves professionally.

Within North Carolina, this program sits at the 40th percentile—squarely middle-of-the-pack. East Carolina leads the state at $45,000, while Appalachian State trails NC State and UNC Wilmington by several thousand dollars. For an 89% admission rate school, these outcomes aren't alarming, but they're not compelling either. The concerning piece is that very small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset. That makes it hard to know whether these numbers reflect a consistent pattern or just an unusual graduating class.

The real question for parents is whether their student can weather those first few years of lower earnings. If your child is passionate about geology and can manage on $35,000 initially—possibly while living at home or in a lower-cost area—the trajectory improves meaningfully. Just recognize this program won't deliver the immediate payoff that some STEM fields provide.