Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's geoscience program stands out for one critical reason: graduates carry roughly $8,500 less debt than the national average while earning above-median salaries. With just $16,298 in student loans against $42,000 first-year earnings, this represents one of the most favorable debt burdens among geoscience programs nationwide—landing in the 95th percentile for low debt. That 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months of gross salary, giving them unusual financial flexibility early in their careers.

The earnings themselves are solid rather than spectacular. At $42,000 starting and $46,000 by year four, UNLV graduates earn slightly more than both the national median and the state average, ranking above 60% of Nevada programs. While geoscience isn't typically a high-paying field immediately out of college, the 10% earnings growth trajectory is respectable, and the combination with minimal debt changes the calculation significantly. The program edges out Nevada-Reno's geoscience program in both earnings and debt management.

For families concerned about educational ROI, this program delivers where it counts: your child can enter the workforce with actual science credentials and minimal financial burden. The accessible admission standards (96% acceptance rate) combined with strong debt management makes this particularly appealing for middle-income families—40% of students receive Pell grants. This is a low-risk pathway into geosciences.