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Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences bachelor's degree outcomes at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · 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.

$8,690 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 43.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −76% · 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−$115,000

$8,000Annual price−$147,000

$16,000Annual price−$179,000

$23,000Current college-wide context−$207,000

$24,000Current college-wide context−$211,000

$32,000Annual price−$243,000

$40,000Annual price−$275,000

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+18%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$48,118 → $56,834

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

17Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

34Borrowers 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$23,322

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

02 · BORROWING$22,375

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$51,500

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$237/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$23,322Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,735Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE71.5%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE79.7%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.

$48,118Year 1

$51,500Year 4

$56,834Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% 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$4,292

Estimated loan payment$237

34borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$51,500 vs. $60,190

$8,690 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$150,570 median wageVA estimate · 1,470 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAtmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$119,940 median wageVA estimate · 230 jobs · 25-1051+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 0.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeGeoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$88,390 median wageVA estimate · 300 jobs · 19-2042+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 1.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHydrologists$132,080 median wageVA estimate · 40 jobs · 19-2043+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$80,330 median wageVA estimate · 760 jobs · 25-1052+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians$59,290 median wageVA estimate · 6,980 jobs · 19-4043+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeHydrologic Technicians$52,190 median wageVA estimate · 40 jobs · 19-4044-1.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

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