Best Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the South (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Top Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 53 Geology and Earth Sciences programs in the South by median earnings of Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus leads the list at $85,207, followed by The University of Texas at Austin at $83,481 and Texas A&M University-College Station at $74,594.
Across the listed programs, the median figure is $53,479, with a spread of $61,172 from $85,207 to $24,035. For 16 of the 53 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list is overwhelmingly public: 98% of the schools, or 52 out of 53, are public institutions, with a single private nonprofit program. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price at $6,541, while The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $85,207 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $85,207 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $83,481 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin admits 27% of applicants and posts median earnings of $83,481 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $74,594 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station reports median earnings of $74,594 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $18,686 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 4 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $74,591 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| An average net price of $19,070 accompanies Texas Tech University's median earnings of $74,591 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $70,284 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia reports median earnings of $70,284 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 60%. | |||||
| 6 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $69,943 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| With an average net price of $6,541, University of Florida also shows median earnings of $69,943 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $68,127 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston ranks 13th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $68,127 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $67,493 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
| Median federal debt of $19,500 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed and median earnings of $67,493 four years after completing are reported by Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College. | |||||
| 9 | West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV | $66,798 | $15,634 | $9,450 | 89.0% |
| West Virginia University admits 89% of applicants and reports median earnings of $66,798 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $66,157 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed from Florida State University left with a median of $18,000 in federal loans, while the Geology and Earth Sciences program reports median earnings of $66,157 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of Southern Mississippi · Hattiesburg, MS | $66,142 | $21,708 | $19,867 | 99.1% |
| University of Southern Mississippi ranks 11th on this list and carries an average net price of $21,708. | |||||
| 12 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $65,294 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington reports median earnings of $65,294 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,951. | |||||
| 13 | College of Charleston · Charleston, SC | $63,993 | $18,960 | $12,133 | 60.0% |
| College of Charleston reports $63,993 in median earnings for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $18,960. | |||||
| 14 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $63,298 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University shows median federal debt of $26,000 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, and the program's earnings four years after completing sit at $63,298. | |||||
| 15 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $62,082 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
| With an admission rate of 78%, Mississippi State University ranks 15th on this list and posts median earnings of $62,082 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $61,023 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh carries an average net price of $6,382 for families earning under $30,000, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $61,023 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $60,472 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| Ranking 63rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of South Florida reports $60,472 in median earnings for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $60,414 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington shows median federal debt of $22,995 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, and its graduates earn a median of $60,414 four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | University of West Georgia · Carrollton, GA | $60,355 | $12,786 | $10,339 | 51.6% |
| Admitting 52% of applicants, University of West Georgia reports $60,355 in median earnings for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $59,969 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University left with a median of $21,500 in federal loans, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn $59,969 four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $58,840 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas ranks 21st on this list, with an average net price of $18,267 and median earnings of $58,840 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $57,892 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 90.0% |
| With an admission rate of 90%, University of Houston-Downtown reports $57,892 in median earnings for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $57,540 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio carries an average net price of $7,870 for families earning under $30,000, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $57,540 four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $56,405 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
| Middle Tennessee State University shows median federal debt of $25,789 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $56,405 four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $56,255 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University reports median earnings of $56,255 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with 9 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $55,954 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Sam Houston State University left with a median of $21,983 in federal loans, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $55,954 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $53,479 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
| Tennessee Technological University admits 76% of applicants and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $53,479 four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $53,441 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $53,441 four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $53,269 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Median federal debt among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed at Appalachian State University is $22,291, alongside median earnings of $53,269 four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $53,247 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte reports an average net price of $15,435, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $53,247 four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $52,098 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso posts an admission rate of 100% and median earnings of $52,098 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $51,500 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
| James Madison University ranks 32nd on this list, with median earnings of $51,500 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Columbus State University · Columbus, GA | $50,864 | $13,115 | $11,271 | 99.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Columbus State University left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $50,864 four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $50,202 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville admits 42% of applicants and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $50,202 four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $49,730 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| Median federal debt among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed at University of Arkansas is $22,500, alongside median earnings of $49,730 four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $48,987 | $12,384 | $11,532 | 74.3% |
| University of New Orleans reports an average net price of $12,384, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $48,987 four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | Georgia State University · Atlanta, GA | $47,111 | $15,931 | $13,787 | 55.4% |
| Georgia State University reports median earnings of $47,111 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 23. | |||||
| 38 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $45,696 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 87.9% |
| An average net price of $15,267 accompanies an admission rate of 88% at Georgia Southern University. | |||||
| 39 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $42,682 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 89.6% |
| Tarleton State University ranks 39th on this list and posts an average net price of $15,574 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 40 | The University of Texas Permian Basin · Odessa, TX | $42,188 | $12,723 | $11,930 | 94.9% |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin holds an Azimuth composite rank of 298th among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $42,188 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $41,565 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| Texas Christian University, a private nonprofit university in Fort Worth, reports median earnings of $41,565 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $40,647 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama shows an admission rate of 77% and an average net price of $19,169 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 43 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi, TX | $38,289 | $15,225 | $11,445 | 88.6% |
| Median earnings of $38,289 four years after completing are reported by Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, alongside a cohort of 8. | |||||
| 44 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $35,416 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University ranks 44th on this list and posts an average net price of $10,990. | |||||
| 45 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $33,993 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University holds an Azimuth composite rank of 180th among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $33,993 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $33,993 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary admits 34% of applicants and shows an average net price of $3,106 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 47 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $33,993 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
| A cohort of 5 and median earnings of $33,993 four years after completing are reported by Northern Kentucky University. | |||||
| 48 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $33,281 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| University of Georgia ranks 48th on this list and posts an average net price of $13,936. | |||||
| 49 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $32,563 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University reports median earnings of $32,563 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $31,133 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga admits 81% of applicants and carries an average net price of $14,265. | |||||
| 51 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $30,554 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 96.4% |
| Austin Peay State University ranks 375th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $7,588 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 52 | Murray State University · Murray, KY | $25,194 | $9,096 | $6,242 | 85.7% |
| Murray State University ranks 52nd on this list, with median earnings of $25,194 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $24,035 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
| University of Memphis shows an admission rate of 72% and a median of $24,035 in earnings for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided Geology and Earth Sciences graduates who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 16 of the 53 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus to the bottom of the list is $61,172, and the gap between University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus and The University of Texas at Austin is $1,726.
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