Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Southern Utah University

Comparable geosciences programs nationally produce first-year earnings around $40,000, which puts this estimated outcome significantly below what graduates typically earn elsewhere in Utah—where the state median hovers near $49,000. That $9,000 gap matters when you're carrying roughly $25,000 in debt. Programs at the University of Utah and Weber State both report earnings close to $48,000, suggesting that location, curriculum focus, or employment networks might play meaningful roles in where graduates land their first jobs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 sits in reasonable territory—you'd expect to pay off loans within a few years at typical repayment rates. But that calculation assumes the national estimate holds true here, and the state data suggests geosciences graduates in Utah generally do better than the national baseline. Whether Southern Utah University's program performs closer to state peers or national averages remains unclear without actual graduate outcomes.

For parents weighing this investment, the uncertainty cuts both ways. If SUU's program tracks with other Utah schools, you're looking at a solid return with manageable debt. If it performs closer to the national median used for these estimates, earnings still cover debt comfortably but fall short of what's possible elsewhere in the state. Given the competitive admission rate and modest Pell grant population, visiting campus to understand where recent graduates actually work would help fill in what the suppressed data can't tell you.