Compare 52 Geochemistry. programs in the South. Average earnings: $45,225.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Geochemistry tells a different story. Across 52 programs, earnings range from $50,177 to $63,830—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Florida State University's Geochemistry program leads with graduates earning $63,830, despite the field averaging $45,225 across all programs. Sam Houston State follows at $62,670 with 85% acceptance, while UT Austin rounds out the top three at $62,069—demonstrating that program-level excellence exists beyond traditional prestige hierarchies.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Florida State graduates borrow $18,000 and face just a 6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, graduates can cover their entire student debt with about 3 months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $63,830
Strong outcomes ($62,670) with 85% acceptance
6.0% payment burden | Excellent
12.0% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $63,830 | 7 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Manageable |
| #2 | $62,670 | 8 | $21,983 | Excellent | $19,433 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $62,069 | 42 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Manageable | |
| #4 | University Of HoustonPublic | $61,840 | 50 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Manageable |
| #5 | $60,021 | 13 | $17,750 | Excellent | $13,000 | Good | |
| #6 | $59,588 | 38 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $59,072 | 15 | $23,970 | Good | $15,047 | Manageable | |
| #8 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $56,661 | 15 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Manageable |
| #9 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $55,946 | 25 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #10 | $55,516 | 30 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $55,434 | 28 | $17,988 | Excellent | $15,541 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $54,284 | 10 | $23,250 | Good | $16,000 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $53,155 | 63 | $22,142 | Good | $25,567 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $52,783 | 74 | $17,804 | Good | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $51,876 | 28 | $20,121 | Good | $23,000 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $51,550 | 35 | $21,500 | Good | $23,443 | Challenging |
| #17 | $50,894 | 19 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Georgia State UniversityPublic | $50,857 | 34 | $20,903 | Good | $14,837 | Challenging |
| #19 | $50,535 | 9 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | |
| #20 | $50,177 | 24 | $20,500 | Good | $13,859 | Challenging | |
| #21 | University Of FloridaPublic | $50,033 | 36 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Challenging |
| #22 | $47,582 | 10 | $19,606 | Good | $17,125 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $47,131 | 33 | $20,231 | Good | $21,919 | High | |
| #24 | $46,097 | 57 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,809 | High | |
| #25 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $45,772 | 19 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,971 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
