Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at CUNY Brooklyn College

With more than half its students on Pell grants, Brooklyn College serves a primarily working-class student body pursuing earth sciences degrees, and the estimated financial outcomes here reveal a manageable if modest starting point. Based on five comparable geosciences programs across New York, first-year earnings cluster around $37,800—slightly below the national median but typical for the state. The estimated $23,800 in debt produces a ratio of 0.63, meaning graduates would dedicate about eight months of their first year's salary to loans under standard repayment. That's reasonable by contemporary standards, particularly for a CUNY school where in-state tuition keeps costs relatively contained.

The limitation here is that we're working entirely with peer program data rather than outcomes specific to Brooklyn College's graduates. The statewide range is substantial—SUNY Geneseo's program shows first-year earnings of just $27,400 while New Paltz reaches over $40,500—suggesting that individual program characteristics, alumni networks, and regional job markets matter significantly in earth sciences. Brooklyn's location offers proximity to environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and engineering companies that hire geoscientists, which could work in graduates' favor beyond what these estimates capture.

For families evaluating this path, the debt load appears workable but the earnings ceiling needs consideration. If your student plans to pursue graduate work—common in this field for higher-paying positions—the relatively low starting debt becomes an advantage. If they're aiming for immediate employment in environmental science or related sectors, research Brooklyn College's internship partnerships and job placement specifically, since those details will matter more than statewide medians.