Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's geosciences program significantly outperforms most schools nationally—landing in the 87th percentile for earnings—while tracking right at Colorado's state median. The $46,263 starting salary beats the national benchmark by $6,500, and the debt load of $25,000 translates to a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates carry roughly six months of their first-year salary in debt, which falls comfortably in the "safe investment" range. Within Colorado, the program essentially matches the state median and runs close to the state's top earners, sitting just $700 behind University of Northern Colorado and ahead of CSU-Fort Collins.

The 6% earnings bump from year one to year four is modest, which is fairly typical for geology-related fields where entry-level field work and project positions don't always show dramatic early-career progression. The real question is whether those careers gain momentum after year four, something these numbers can't reveal. For students drawn to environmental consulting, energy, or natural resources work in Colorado—where the industry presence is strong—this program provides solid preparation at a reasonable cost.

The bottom line: This is a sensible choice for geology enthusiasts, particularly those planning to stay in Colorado. Your child won't carry crushing debt, and starting earnings put them ahead of three-quarters of geoscience grads nationally. Just understand that rapid salary growth isn't baked into the early trajectory.