Best colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of California-Davis are the top bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in California by graduate earnings. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,406, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, Stanford University and University of California-Santa Barbara award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in California: 117, 93 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 77 California colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences and award 967 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program focuses on the study of the Earth's structure, composition, and processes. This program is designed for students interested in understanding natural phenomena and the physical sciences…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,406 | 22 | 68% | — | $19,375 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,489 | 30 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,462 | 46 | 86% | — | $16,416 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,362 | 58 | 75% | — | $20,833 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,804 | 60 | 87% | — | $15,000 |
| 6 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,509 | 28 | 70% | — | $15,125 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,759 | 61 | 83% | — | $21,800 |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,476 | 26 | 49% | — | $20,526 |
| 9 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,998 | 34 | 76% | — | — |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,351 | 16 | 76% | — | $21,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 117 | Not reported |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 93 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 61 | $30,759 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 60 | $38,804 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 58 | $43,362 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 46 | $43,462 |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 34 | $22,998 |
| 8 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 30 | $48,489 |
| 10 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 28 | $35,509 |
ShowHide the other 67 California colleges offering Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042).
Top skills
What Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees?+
University of California-San Diego (117 graduates a year), Stanford University (93 graduates a year) and University of California-Santa Barbara (61 graduates a year) award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 77 California colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
What is the best college for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads among bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,406, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of California-Davis follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 117 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $49,406. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in California is $108,910 (median $106,500), across about 3,350 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program?+
The Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program focuses on the study of the Earth's structure, composition, and processes. This program is designed for students interested in understanding natural phenomena and the physical sciences…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, science, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.2% growth with around 2,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card