Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A geosciences degree from UIUC sits right in the middle of the pack—60th percentile among Illinois programs—but the small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. Starting at $39K, graduates earn slightly below the national median but above the Illinois average, suggesting the program holds its own regionally without commanding premium salaries. The manageable debt load of $23,250 is actually below both state and national medians, creating a reasonable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should handle comfortably.

The 18% earnings growth to $46K by year four is solid, though both starting and mid-career figures trail the national 75th percentile by a notable margin. For context, this is a selective institution (44% admission rate, 1418 SAT average), yet the geosciences outcomes don't reach the elite tier you might expect from the school's overall reputation. The program performs comparably to UIC's offering, suggesting that in Illinois, geosciences simply doesn't command the salary premium that other STEM fields might.

For families considering this path: the financials work if your student is genuinely passionate about earth sciences and understands they're choosing intellectual engagement over peak earning potential. The debt is manageable enough that career pivots remain possible. Just remember the sample size caveat—these figures represent fewer than 30 graduates, so they're directionally useful rather than definitive.