Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences bachelor's degree outcomes at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$6,943 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
46.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−66% · 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$53,247 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.

+45%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,717$54,869
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
27Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
36Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
84Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$23,757Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

215Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
45Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
94Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
133Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$53,247$21,044 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 20 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,435

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

02 · BORROWING$24,897

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$53,247

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$264/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$15,435Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,010Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE79.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE69.0%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.

$37,717Year 1
$53,247Year 4
$54,869Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.9% 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$4,437
Estimated loan payment$264
84borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$53,247 vs. $60,190

$6,943 below 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$173,870 median wageNC estimate · 6,010 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAtmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$102,980 median wageNC estimate · 360 jobs · 25-1051+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 0.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeGeoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$95,260 median wageNC estimate · 570 jobs · 19-2042+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 1.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHydrologists$81,770 median wageNC estimate · 150 jobs · 19-2043+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$78,620 median wageNC estimate · 900 jobs · 25-1052+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeHydrologic Technicians$59,590 median wageNC estimate · 110 jobs · 19-4044-1.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians$48,090 median wageNC estimate · 250 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.

Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

$7,776 higher earnings · $2,663 less debt

Earnings
$61,023
Debt
$22,234
Annual net price
$17,303
View outcomes →
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

$22 higher earnings · $2,044 less debt

Earnings
$53,269
Debt
$22,853
Annual net price
$16,836
View outcomes →
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina Wilmington

$7,167 higher earnings

Earnings
$60,414
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$20,109
View outcomes →
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

$20,400 higher earnings · $3,397 less debt · $71 lower annual net price

Earnings
$73,647
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$15,364
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

36 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 →