Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Southern New Hampshire University

Starting at $45,727, SNHU's geology program launches graduates well ahead of their peers nationwide—outearning 85% of similar programs across the country and beating the national median by $6,000. That's a meaningful advantage for a field where many entry-level positions struggle to reach $40,000. However, the $31,349 debt load tells a more complex story. While this amount sits above the national median for geology programs, the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable, putting graduates in a position where they'd devote roughly 14-15% of gross income to standard loan payments.

The premium price becomes clearer when comparing SNHU to other geology programs nationally—it ranks in just the 5th percentile for debt, meaning 95% of geology programs nationally saddle students with less debt. For a school with a 96% admission rate serving nearly half Pell-eligible students, this debt level deserves attention. State comparisons offer limited insight given only 4 schools in New Hampshire offer this program, but SNHU matches the state median on both earnings and debt.

The practical reality: your child would start with strong earning potential in a competitive field, but they're paying more upfront than at most geology programs nationwide. If they're committed to geosciences and value SNHU's flexibility (important for a school known for online options), the higher debt is offset by above-average starting salaries. If minimizing debt is the priority, exploring geology programs at public universities would likely yield similar outcomes at lower cost.