Best colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Columbia University, University at Buffalo and CUNY Brooklyn College award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in New York: 61, 47 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 New York colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences and award 425 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 5 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 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,696 | 47 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 2 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,658 | 61 | 96% | $15,315 | $21,065 |
| 3 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,524 | 17 | 72% | — | $18,500 |
| 4 | SUNY Brockport Brockport Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,768 | 7 | 55% | — | — |
| 5 | SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,395 | 13 | 71% | — | $24,275 |
Colleges awarding the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in New York
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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 61 | $34,658 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 47 | $39,696 |
| 3 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 4 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 5 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 6 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 7 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 8 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public | 17 | $40,524 |
| 9 | CUNY City College New York Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland Public | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 New York colleges offering Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 17 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 13 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | Potsdam | Public | 9 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 8 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 7 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 6 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 6 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 4 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 3 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Marist University | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 2 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 1 |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | Public | 1 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | Public | 1 |
| Utica University | Utica | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees?+
Columbia University (61 graduates a year), University at Buffalo (47 graduates a year) and CUNY Brooklyn College (24 graduates a year) award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 New York colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Which Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University at Buffalo tops the list at $39,696. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in New York is $97,780 (median $86,410), across about 600 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.
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