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Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences bachelor's degree outcomes at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Name: Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's Degree outcomes at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Columbia, SC · 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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$10,094 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 37.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $18,210 / year
10-year scenario: −7% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$72,840

$8,000Annual price+$40,840

$16,000Annual price+$8,840

$23,000Current college-wide context−$19,160

$24,000Annual price−$23,160

$32,000Annual price−$55,160

$40,000Annual price−$87,160

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,432 → Not available

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

Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

24Borrowers 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

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.

27Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

15Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$70,284$37,295 above the preliminary benchmark

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$22,811

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

02 · BORROWING$26,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$70,284

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$281/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$22,811Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,638Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.2%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE78.8%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.

$38,432Year 1

$70,284Year 4

Not availableYear 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.8% 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$5,857

Estimated loan payment$281

24borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$70,284 vs. $60,190

$10,094 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$131,140 median wageSC estimate · 780 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAtmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$76,500 median wageSC estimate · 80 jobs · 25-1051+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 0.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeGeoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$86,070 median wageSC estimate · 230 jobs · 19-2042+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 1.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHydrologists$65,770 median wageSC estimate · 100 jobs · 19-2043+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$81,200 median wageSC estimate · 270 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$53,160 median wageSC estimate · 90 jobs · 19-4043+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

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