Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Kean University

Kean University's geoscience program reports first-year earnings of $50,645—substantially higher than the national median of $39,678 and even exceeding what most New Jersey geoscience programs deliver. However, these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, which means a few high earners could be skewing the picture significantly upward. The debt load of $27,000 translates to a manageable 0.53 ratio, meaning graduates earn roughly double what they owe, which sounds reasonable on paper.

What's puzzling is the 60th percentile ranking within New Jersey despite outearning the state median. This suggests either volatility in the data or that NJ geoscience programs cluster tightly around similar outcomes. For perspective, graduates are reportedly earning more than those from Rutgers and Montclair State—which would be impressive if consistent, but with such a small cohort, you can't count on your child matching these results.

The real question is whether this program can reliably produce these outcomes at scale. The 95th national percentile ranking looks fantastic, but that small sample size means one exceptional graduate year could dramatically inflate the numbers. If your child is drawn to geosciences and Kean offers a strong curriculum fit, the debt level won't be crushing. Just understand that with limited data, you're making this decision with less certainty than you'd have at larger programs with more stable track records.