Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Elizabeth City State University

Based on comparable geosciences programs in North Carolina, Elizabeth City State's graduates can expect starting salaries around $38,500 with roughly $22,850 in debt—a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 that falls comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. These figures track closely with the national median for this major, suggesting typical outcomes for a bachelor's in geological sciences. However, it's worth noting that Elizabeth City State serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (53%), and these estimated earnings place it in the middle of NC's geosciences programs, with some state schools reporting significantly higher starting salaries.

The real question is whether these estimates reflect Elizabeth City State's actual outcomes or simply where similar programs tend to land. The fact that the Department of Education suppresses this program's specific data—likely due to small graduating classes—means parents are flying somewhat blind. With actual reported data from East Carolina showing $45,000 and NC State at $39,000, there's a meaningful range of outcomes across the state. For a program with suppressed data, families should dig deeper: talk to recent alumni, ask the department about job placement rates, and understand whether graduates are finding work in their field or pivoting to other careers where a science degree provides general credibility but not specialized value.