Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

At first glance, UW-Eau Claire's geosciences program looks like a solid bet—graduates start above the national median and carry $21,000 in debt versus $24,757 nationally. That 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable starting point. Among Wisconsin's 12 geosciences programs, these graduates earn more than typical in-state peers ($44,207 versus the state median of $43,000), though they don't quite match the flagship Madison campus. The 15% earnings bump by year four suggests steady career progression in the field.

The catch? We're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so a few high or low earners can significantly skew these numbers. Still, the fundamentals work: lower-than-average debt paired with above-average starting pay at a school with a 76% admission rate. For families weighing cost against outcomes, this program delivers competitive early-career results without the debt burden seen at many geology programs. Just recognize that with such a small cohort, your child's experience could vary more than at larger programs—networking opportunities and career placement support matter more when the alumni base is thin.