Geology major
Geology: courses, careers, and where to study
Geology studies the Earth's materials, structure, and history, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, lab analysis, and questions about natural resources, hazards, and deep time.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Geology earn a median $60,190 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,343 to $77,573 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Geology major covers mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, paleontology, geochemistry, and geophysics, built on a core of chemistry, physics, and calculus. Most bachelor's programs include a required summer field camp where students map rock units and structures in the field, plus lab work with rock and mineral samples, thin sections, and geologic maps. Many programs let students lean toward a track such as environmental geology, hydrogeology, economic/resource geology, or geophysics.
Graduates work in environmental and geotechnical consulting, energy and mineral exploration, water-resource management, hazard assessment (earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes), and government surveys such as the USGS and state geological surveys. The work typically combines field data collection, sample and instrument analysis, and GIS-based mapping and modeling.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $99,240 for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers, with a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education and projected employment growth of 3.2% from 2024 to 2034. Some research and senior roles favor or require a master's degree, and several states license practicing geologists.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Geology maps to CIP 40.0601, Geology/Earth Science, General, within the PHYSICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Geology is awarded as
Of the 5,763 Geology credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 52 credentials.
- Associate: 3%, 151 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 69%, 3,983 credentials.
- Graduate: 27%, 1,577 credentials.
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 35 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 8 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Mineralogy and petrology (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks)
- Structural geology and plate tectonics
- Sedimentology and stratigraphy
- Geomorphology and surface processes
- Geochemistry and geophysics
- Paleontology and historical geology
- Field mapping and field-camp methods
- GIS, remote sensing, and geologic map interpretation
Typical careers
- Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Environmental Geologist
- Geotechnical Consultant
- Hydrogeologist
- Exploration / Mining Geologist
- GIS Analyst
Typical salary range: Informational only (BLS, 2024 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers median $99,240)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Geology graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Geology earn a median $60,190 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,343 to $77,573 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $60,190 | $44,343 to $77,573 |
| Master's | $79,463 | $59,785 to $103,530 |
Compare Geology programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Geology programs
- The University of Texas at Austin (TX): $83,481, median federal debt $16,993
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (PA): $81,092, median federal debt $25,648
- Texas A & M University-College Station (TX): $74,594, median federal debt $18,686
- Texas Tech University (TX): $74,591, median federal debt $25,250
- San Diego State University (CA): $73,647, median federal debt $21,500
- California State University-Sacramento (CA): $73,418, median federal debt $15,000
- University of California-Davis (CA): $73,337, median federal debt $16,000
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins (CO): $71,631, median federal debt $22,250
- University of California-Irvine (CA): $70,820, median federal debt $14,916
- California State University-Bakersfield (CA): $69,989
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Geology, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $99,240 | 2,000 | +3.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $48,390 | 1,300 | +1.5% | Associate's degree |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,390 | 1,000 | +2.6% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Hydrologists | $92,060 | 500 | -0.1% | Bachelor's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Geology does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Geology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Geology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Geology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Geology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Geology credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Mississippi State University, MS · 157 credentials
- Washington State University, WA · 127 credentials
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC · 88 credentials
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI · 85 credentials
- The University of Texas at Austin, TX · 80 credentials
- Texas A & M University-College Station, TX · 75 credentials
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, PA · 73 credentials
- Columbia University in the City of New York, NY · 64 credentials
- Purdue University-Main Campus, IN · 63 credentials
- Stanford University, CA · 63 credentials
- University of California-Irvine, CA · 62 credentials
- University of California-Santa Cruz, CA · 59 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Geology credentials were awarded
23 states have a distinct enough set of Geology colleges to be worth its own page.
- California: 67 colleges
- New York: 33 colleges
- Texas: 31 colleges
- Ohio: 21 colleges
- Pennsylvania: 20 colleges
- Michigan: 14 colleges
- Massachusetts: 14 colleges
- Colorado: 13 colleges
- Indiana: 11 colleges
- New Jersey: 11 colleges
- Tennessee: 10 colleges
- Illinois: 10 colleges
- Wisconsin: 10 colleges
- North Carolina: 9 colleges
- Virginia: 6 colleges
- Florida: 6 colleges
- Georgia: 6 colleges
- Louisiana: 6 colleges
- Kentucky: 6 colleges
- Kansas: 5 colleges
- Oregon: 5 colleges
- Missouri: 5 colleges
- South Carolina: 5 colleges
Every Geology program with its own CampusPin page
13 programs in 7 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Geology programs in Louisiana, 1 program
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Bachelor's, $67,493
Geology programs in New York, 1 program
- University at Buffalo Bachelor's, $59,841
Geology programs in North Carolina, 1 program
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor's, $53,247
Geology programs in Pennsylvania, 3 programs
- Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bachelor's, $60,075
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $81,092
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Bachelor's, $57,456
Geology programs in Texas, 3 programs
- Texas A & M University-College Station Bachelor's, $74,594
- Texas Tech University Bachelor's, $74,591
- University of Houston Bachelor's, $68,127
Geology programs in Washington, 3 programs
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus Bachelor's, $66,845
- Washington State University Bachelor's, $45,002
- Western Washington University Bachelor's, $67,208
Geology programs in West Virginia, 1 program
- West Virginia University Bachelor's, $66,798
Related majors
Environmental Science
Environmental Science combines biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address climate, conservation, water, and pollution challenges.
Chemistry
Chemistry studies matter and its transformations, preparing graduates for pharmaceutical, materials, energy, environmental, and biotech careers, plus medical and graduate school.
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering applies physics, mechanics, and design to the built environment, roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings, suiting students who want to plan and build public infrastructure.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Geology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Geology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Geology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.