Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Old Dominion University

The $39,678 first-year earnings suggested by comparable geosciences programs nationally falls notably short of what Virginia programs typically deliver. James Madison's graduates earn $48,118—nearly $8,500 more—and that gap compounds significantly over time. For a field where location often matters (think energy sector in Houston versus environmental consulting in D.C.), Old Dominion's coastal Virginia location should theoretically position graduates well, yet the national benchmark suggests this advantage may not be materializing.

The estimated debt load of $24,757 translates to a 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, which appears manageable on paper. However, that assessment depends entirely on whether actual outcomes for Old Dominion graduates align with these national estimates. Given that Virginia's state median for this program sits 21% higher than the national figure, there's reason to question whether Old Dominion is an outlier pulling that average down, or whether their graduates actually perform better than these estimates suggest but in numbers too small for the DOE to report publicly.

For parents, this uncertainty is the real issue. You're being asked to evaluate a program without knowing whether it delivers typical Virginia outcomes or something closer to the weaker national average. If your student is considering geosciences seriously, contact Old Dominion's career services directly for placement data: where do their graduates actually work, and what do they earn? Without that information, you're making a decision in the dark.