Ohio · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Best colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in Ohio

Ranked by graduate earnings

Ohio State University, University of Akron Main Campus and Ohio University are the top bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Ohio State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,156, College Scorecard. Ohio University, Ohio State University and Miami University - Oxford award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in Ohio: 52, 44 and 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Ohio colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences and award 284 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…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 40.06
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
284
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,321
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,864
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
65%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$86,230
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Ohio State University
Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,1564488%—$26,000
2University of Akron Main Campus
Akron Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,6782052%—$27,000
3Ohio University
Athens Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,6375265%—$19,500
4Miami University - Oxford
Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,4783880%—$20,862
5Kent State University at Kent
Kent Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$40,0051464%—$27,000
6Wright State University
Dayton Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$39,321842%—$25,500

Colleges awarding the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in Ohio

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Ohio University
Athens Public
52$38,637
2Ohio State University
Columbus Public
44$41,156
3Miami University - Oxford
Oxford Public
38$38,478
4Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green Public
23Not reported
5University of Akron Main Campus
Akron Public
20$39,678
6University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Public
19Not reported
7Kent State University at Kent
Kent Public
14$40,005
8Oberlin College
Oberlin Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
9University of Dayton
Dayton Private not-for-profit
12Not reported
10Wright State University
Dayton Public
8$39,321
Show the other 11 Ohio colleges offering Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Denison UniversityGranvillePrivate not-for-profit7
Muskingum UniversityNew ConcordPrivate not-for-profit6
Cedarville UniversityCedarvillePrivate not-for-profit5
University of ToledoToledoPublic5
Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandPrivate not-for-profit4
The College of WoosterWoosterPrivate not-for-profit4
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstownPublic4
Sinclair Community CollegeDaytonPublic2
Ashland UniversityAshlandPrivate not-for-profit1
Shawnee State UniversityPortsmouthPublic1
Wright State University - Lake CampusCelinaPublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (SOC 19-2042).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.2%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~2,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$99,240
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionScienceSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWriting

What Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers earn in Ohio

Jobs in Ohio
410
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$86,230
median $81,220
Best-paying metro
$88,180
Columbus, OH

Related careers

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
$85,450 avg · 700 jobs
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$86,230 avg · 410 jobs
Hydrologists
$95,570 avg · 390 jobs
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$100,270 avg · 150 jobs
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$58,960 avg · 130 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in Ohio.

Which Ohio colleges award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees?+

Ohio University (52 graduates a year), Ohio State University (44 graduates a year) and Miami University - Oxford (38 graduates a year) award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Ohio colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.

What is the best college for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in Ohio?+

By graduate earnings, Ohio State University leads among bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,156, College Scorecard. University of Akron Main Campus and Ohio University follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio University is the largest, with 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Ohio State University tops the list at $41,156. 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 Ohio?+

The average annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in Ohio is $86,230 (median $81,220), across about 410 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).

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in other statesIowaSouth CarolinaUtahVirginiaMissouriNew JerseyColoradoWyoming

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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