Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Midwestern State University

Peer geoscience programs in Texas suggest starting earnings around $44,000, which would make an estimated $23,000 in debt manageable—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 sits comfortably below concerning thresholds. For a field that depends heavily on oil and gas cycles and regional geology opportunities, Midwestern State's location in Wichita Falls positions graduates in Texas's energy corridor, though not in the most competitive job markets like Houston or Midland.

The challenge here is that these figures come from comparable programs across Texas, not Midwestern State's actual graduate outcomes. The school serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (40%), and with suppressed data, it's unclear whether this specific program produces similar results to larger state schools. The top Texas programs—Houston-Downtown and Texas Tech—report first-year earnings exceeding $49,000, suggesting the field rewards institutional connections and location. Whether Midwestern State's program achieves outcomes closer to those leaders or falls below the state median of $43,686 remains unknown.

If your child is drawn to geology and wants an accessible entry point (87% admission rate) with likely manageable debt, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. However, press the school directly for placement rates, alumni outcomes, and industry partnerships—especially relationships with regional energy companies that drive geology hiring in this part of Texas.