Geophysics major
Geophysics: courses, careers, and where to study
Geophysics applies physics and math to probe the Earth's interior, suiting students who like physical science but want to measure and model the planet itself.
A Geophysics major treats the planet as a physical body and uses the tools of physics to look inside it. Students study how seismic waves travel through rock, how gravity and magnetic fields vary across the surface, how heat moves through the interior, and how plates shift and deform over time. Coursework blends physics, calculus and differential equations, and the earth sciences, then layers on the measurement and signal-processing skills needed to turn field readings into a picture of structures you cannot see. This is where geophysics differs from much of geology, which often leans on field observation and the chemistry and history of rocks: geophysics is the quantitative, instrument-driven cousin focused on forces, waves, and fields.
Most programs are lab- and field-intensive, with required courses in seismology, gravity and magnetics, and remote sensing alongside a capstone or field-methods project where students collect and interpret their own subsurface data. Some roles, especially those tied to surveying, mapping, or signing off on subsurface work, can carry state licensure or professional-registration requirements that vary by employer and should be verified locally; certain technical positions and research tracks expect a graduate degree. Graduates work in energy and mineral exploration, groundwater and environmental consulting, earthquake and volcano monitoring, government earth-science agencies, instrument and software firms, and university research.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $99,240 and projects employment to grow about 3.2% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Geophysics maps to CIP 40.0603, Geophysics and Seismology, within the PHYSICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the physics of solids and its application to the study of the earth and other planets. Includes instruction in gravimetric, seismology, earthquake forecasting, magnetrometry, electrical properties of solid bodies, plate tectonics, active deformation, thermodynamics, remote sensing, geodesy, and laboratory simulations of geological processes.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Geophysics is awarded as
Of the 197 Geophysics credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Bachelor's29%58
- Graduate71%139
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, 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
- Seismology and the analysis of how waves travel through the Earth
- Potential-field methods: gravity and magnetic surveying
- Plate tectonics, active deformation, and earthquake processes
- Geodesy and remote sensing of the surface and crust
- Heat flow, thermodynamics, and the physics of the interior
- Electrical and electromagnetic properties of rocks and subsurface materials
- Calculus, differential equations, and physics applied to the earth sciences
- Field data acquisition, signal processing, and geophysical inversion
- Laboratory measurement, instrument calibration, and simulation of geological processes
Typical careers
- Geophysicist
- Seismologist
- Exploration Geophysicist
- Geophysical Data Analyst
- Hydrogeophysicist
- Volcanologist
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (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.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Geophysics, 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 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,390 | 1,000 | +2.6% | Doctoral or professional 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). 3 of these 3 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 Geophysics 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 Geophysics major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Geophysics program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Geophysics 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 Geophysics 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 Geophysics credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of HoustonTX · 26
- University of ChicagoIL · 17
- Colorado School of MinesCO · 16
- Stanford UniversityCA · 16
- University of California-Los AngelesCA · 13
- University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK · 13
- California Institute of TechnologyCA · 8
- Western Washington UniversityWA · 7
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · 6
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · 6
- Boise State UniversityID · 5
- University of Nevada-RenoNV · 5
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. 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 Geophysics credentials were awarded
2 states have a distinct enough set of Geophysics colleges to be worth its own page.
Related majors
Geology
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.
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Oceanography
Oceanography studies the chemistry, physics, and motion of ocean water, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, lab analysis, and how the sea, atmosphere, and coastlines interact.
Environmental Science
Environmental Science combines biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address climate, conservation, water, and pollution challenges.
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
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 Geophysics degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Geophysics 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 Geophysics 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.