Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado's geosciences program shows impressive first-year earnings of $46,954—outpacing 91% of similar programs nationally and virtually matching what graduates earn at flagship CU Boulder. The $26,000 median debt sits below the 30th percentile nationally, meaning most comparable programs saddle students with more debt. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile within Colorado, that's largely because the state's median already sits well above the national benchmark, putting UNC grads in strong position regardless.

The key strength here is trajectory: earnings climb 13% to nearly $53,000 by year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 that most families would find manageable. You're looking at roughly half a year's salary in debt for a field where graduates seem to find decent-paying work quickly. For a school with an 86% admission rate, these outcomes punch above weight class—though the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means individual results may vary more than usual.

If your child is interested in geosciences and considering Colorado schools, UNC delivers comparable outcomes to CU Boulder at likely lower total cost. The earnings advantage over the national median ($7,000+ annually) makes this a solid financial proposition, not just a passion play.