Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences bachelor's degree outcomes at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Federal field 4006

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,258 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
47.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−33% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$62,448 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+53%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,997$61,145
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
20Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
32Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,680

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$29,869

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$62,448

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$317/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →
AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,680Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,198Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE84.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE80.7%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$39,997Year 1
$62,448Year 4
$61,145Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,204
Estimated loan payment$317
32borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$62,448 vs. $60,190

$2,258 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Natural Sciences Managers$129,070 median wageMI estimate · 2,220 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAtmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$104,780 median wageMI estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1051+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 0.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeGeoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$80,990 median wageMI estimate · 320 jobs · 19-2042+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 1.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHydrologists$101,060 median wageMI estimate · 40 jobs · 19-2043+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$101,030 median wageMI estimate · 560 jobs · 25-1052+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeHydrologic Technicians$64,790 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,840 jobs · 19-4044-1.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians$58,860 median wageMI estimate · 150 jobs · 19-4043+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Allendale, MI

Grand Valley State University

$1,119 less debt · $3,363 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,868
Debt
$28,750
Annual net price
$16,317
View outcomes →
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

$11,994 less debt · $6,542 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,949
Debt
$17,875
Annual net price
$13,138
View outcomes →
Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University

$4,407 lower annual net price

Earnings
$58,164
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$15,273
View outcomes →
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University

$2,083 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,438
Debt
$31,000
Annual net price
$17,597
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

20 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →