How many colleges in California offer Geophysics programs?

CampusPin currently lists 263 U.S. colleges and universities in California that offer Geophysics programs. The list updates daily as institutions report new program offerings to IPEDS.

What's the tuition for a Geophysics program in California?

Among the 50 Geophysics programs listed in California, published in-state tuition ranges from $1,104 to $63,255 (median around $7,989). Public institutions are typically lower for in-state students than private ones. Always verify the current cost of attendance with each school before applying.

What jobs can a Geophysics degree lead to?

A Geophysics degree commonly leads to roles such as Geophysicist, Seismologist, Exploration Geophysicist, Geophysical Data Analyst. Typical pay (early-career; BLS figures are occupation-wide medians): Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers median $99,240)..

Can I apply to a Geophysics program in California with the Common App?

Many Geophysics programs in California accept the Common Application. CampusPin tags each school's Common App acceptance, use the Common App filter on /results to narrow to programs you can apply to with one application.

Geophysics · California

Geophysics colleges in California

CampusPin lists 263 U.S. colleges in California that offer Geophysics programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

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.

Schools in California that offer Geophysics

Geophysics programs in California: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 263 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

263

Public / private

26 / 24

Universities / 2-year

44 / 6

Cities represented

In-state tuition range

$1,104–$63,255

Median in-state tuition

$7,989

Lowest published in-state tuition

Barstow Community College

$1,104

Most selective

California Institute of Technology

3% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

California State University-Fullerton

41,793 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Geophysics program

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

Where a Geophysics degree can lead

Geophysicist
Seismologist
Exploration Geophysicist
Geophysical Data Analyst
Hydrogeophysicist
Volcanologist

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers median $99,240).

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.

Geophysics in other states

Other majors in California

Find more Geophysics schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 263+ Geophysics programs in California by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

Search Geophysics schools in California About the Geophysics major All colleges in California

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