Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver

When data is this limited—based on just three geosciences programs in Colorado—the best your parent can do is look at the overall pattern. Similar programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $46,000 against roughly $26,000 in debt, a relatively manageable 0.56 ratio. That's actually above the national median for this field, which sits closer to $40,000. Colorado's geology sector, driven partly by energy and environmental consulting, appears to command slightly better starting salaries than many states.

The challenge is that Metropolitan State's open-admission model and modest test scores (average SAT of 1014) raise questions about whether its graduates will match outcomes from Colorado School of Mines or CU Boulder—neither of which reported data publicly, making direct comparison impossible. The three programs reflected in these estimates likely vary widely in rigor and employer connections. A third of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where $26,000 in debt isn't trivial, even with a sub-$50,000 starting salary.

If your child is serious about geosciences and Metropolitan State offers the most affordable path to that degree, the estimated debt load isn't alarming. But recognize you're betting on an outcome derived from peer schools that may have very different student bodies and industry networks. Press the department for internship placement rates and where recent graduates actually landed jobs.