Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of South Carolina-Columbia

With earnings of $38,432 in the first year, UofSC's geoscience program lags behind both the national median ($39,678) and sits well below South Carolina's state median of $44,109—placing it in just the 40th percentile among the state's five programs. College of Charleston graduates start nearly $11,000 higher. The debt load of $26,500 is manageable, resulting in a reasonable 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the modest starting salary means graduates will still feel that monthly payment.

The program's relatively weak performance in South Carolina is noteworthy given that geoscience jobs often cluster regionally around specific industries. One bright spot: earnings typically grow substantially in this field over time as graduates gain technical skills and industry credentials, so that first-year figure shouldn't define long-term prospects. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably with more data—either better or worse.

For a flagship state university with a 1297 average SAT, this program's outcomes fall short of expectations. If your child is set on geosciences in South Carolina, College of Charleston's stronger starting salaries deserve serious consideration. If UofSC is the preference for other reasons, they should plan on graduate school or professional certifications to improve their trajectory—the bachelor's alone appears to be a slower start than peers at other state institutions.