Texas · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Best colleges for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in Texas

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Houston-Downtown, Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University - College Station are the top bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in Texas by graduate earnings. University of Houston-Downtown leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,894, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, The University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in Texas: 134, 91 and 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Texas colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences and award 611 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
32
offering CIP 40.06
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
611
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$42,788
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$25,823
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$160,070
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
1University of Houston-Downtown
Houston Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,8942133%—$20,250
2Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree
$49,7272669%—$25,750
3Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,58513484%—$20,837
4The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,7792953%—$18,969
5The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,0629189%—$16,487
6The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$42,7881254%—$27,931

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

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)
1Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station Public
134$44,585
2The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public
91$42,062
3University of Houston
Houston Public
54Not reported
4The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio Public
29$42,779
5The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson Public
28Not reported
6Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public
26$49,727
7The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa Public
24Not reported
8Baylor University
Waco Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
9The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso Public
23Not reported
10University of Houston-Downtown
Houston Public
21$50,894
Show the other 22 Texas colleges offering Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Rice UniversityHoustonPrivate not-for-profit14
Texas A & M University - Corpus ChristiCorpus ChristiPublic12
Southern Methodist UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit12
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonPublic12
Midwestern State UniversityWichita FallsPublic11
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsvillePublic11
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdochesPublic11
El Paso Community CollegeEl PasoPublic10
Texas Christian UniversityFort WorthPrivate not-for-profit9
Austin Community College DistrictAustinPublic7
Texas A&M University - San AntonioSan AntonioPublic7
Sul Ross State UniversityAlpinePublic6
Tarleton State UniversityStephenvillePublic6
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloPublic5
Texas A&M University - KingsvilleKingsvillePublic5
Del Mar CollegeCorpus ChristiPublic4
Lamar UniversityBeaumontPublic4
Odessa CollegeOdessaPublic4
Trinity UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit4
Houston City CollegeHoustonPublic2
Temple CollegeTemplePublic1
Tyler Junior CollegeTylerPublic1

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 Texas

Jobs in Texas
4,900
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$160,070
median $145,220
Best-paying metro
$192,880
Midland, TX

Related careers

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$160,070 avg · 4,900 jobs
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$58,500 avg · 2,190 jobs
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
$96,270 avg · 1,470 jobs
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$120,210 avg · 690 jobs
Hydrologic Technicians
$87,620 avg · 270 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Texas A&M University - College Station (134 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Austin (91 graduates a year) and University of Houston (54 graduates a year) award the most Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Texas colleges offer Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Houston-Downtown leads among bachelor's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,894, College Scorecard. Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University - College Station follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 134 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Houston-Downtown tops the list at $50,894. 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 Texas?+

The average annual wage for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in Texas is $160,070 (median $145,220), across about 4,900 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.

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