Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's geosciences program barely moves the earnings needle after graduation—$41,156 initially, climbing to just $41,241 four years later. While that places graduates slightly above both the national and Ohio medians for the field, the complete absence of income growth should concern any parent wondering about career trajectory. For context, this beats most other Ohio geoscience programs by a modest margin, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $26,000, graduates carry less than national norms and avoid the crippling debt-to-income ratios seen in some fields. The 0.63 ratio means roughly eight months of gross salary could cover the full debt load—manageable compared to programs where that stretches past two years. However, with earnings effectively frozen through the mid-career point, there's little financial momentum to work with.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers shakier than usual, so they may not reflect typical outcomes. If your child is genuinely passionate about geosciences and understands this likely leads to grad school or specialized certifications for better earnings, Ohio State provides a solid foundation without crushing debt. But if the plan is to jump straight into the workforce and see steady raises, these numbers suggest looking elsewhere or preparing for additional credentials post-graduation.