Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of California-Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz's geosciences program offers something increasingly rare: strong earnings growth that actually materializes. Starting at $43,362, graduates see their earnings jump 31% to $56,645 by year four—real career momentum in a field where many programs plateau early. The debt load of $20,833 is notably lower than both the national median ($24,757) and comes with a healthy debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary.

Within California's competitive geosciences landscape, this program holds its own despite not topping the rankings. It outperforms the state median and trails only the Cal Polys and UC Davis among major programs—schools known for their STEM rigor. Performing at the 60th percentile statewide is solid positioning for a UC campus without an engineering school, especially given that one-third of students come from lower-income backgrounds (32% receive Pell grants).

The value proposition here is straightforward: manageable debt paired with legitimate career growth. That trajectory from $43K to $56K suggests graduates are moving beyond entry-level field technician roles into positions with advancement potential. For families weighing UC options or considering whether geosciences can support a career, UCSC demonstrates that this path works—not spectacularly, but reliably enough to justify the investment.