Bachelor's · Blacksburg, Virginia

Is Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 6.8 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $49,187; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $64,414; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $26,084; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $109k (likely $109k – $134k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $25k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in VA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 6.8 years (likely 4.6–11.4); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$68k (likely −$186k – $76k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $250k (likely −$12k – $570k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 86%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at other schools

🌱 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward animals, plants & the planet majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP Biology
AP Environmental Science
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

Biology HL
Environmental Systems and Societies

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

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