Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Based on comparable geosciences programs in Wisconsin, graduates can expect around $43,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $26,000 in debt—a manageable 0.60 ratio that suggests reasonable financial footing. That debt-to-earnings figure sits comfortably below the 1.0 threshold where repayment typically becomes strained, though these estimates derive from only four similar programs statewide, so individual outcomes could vary considerably.

The earnings align with Wisconsin's median for this field and actually exceed the national benchmark of about $40,000, suggesting the state offers decent opportunities for geoscience graduates. Still, $43,000 represents a modest starting salary that may feel tight in expensive metro areas, and career advancement in earth sciences often requires graduate education. The pathway forward depends heavily on whether your child plans to pursue advanced degrees or enter the workforce directly—a consideration the current data can't address.

Given the small sample size underlying these estimates, talking with the department about where recent graduates actually landed—what jobs, what locations, what salaries—becomes especially valuable here. The numbers suggest a reasonable investment if the field genuinely interests your child, but without school-specific outcomes, you're working with educated guesses rather than proven results.