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# Top Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Top Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-geology-and-earth-sciences-programs/)

This page ranks the 43 Geology and Earth Sciences programs in the West by the median earnings of Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $79,143 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $79,143 to $21,508, with a median of $57,989. For 12 of the 43 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 40 of the 43 programs, or 93%, alongside 3 private nonprofit schools. California State University-Bakersfield posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $5,652.

California State University-Long Beach ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

43 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $79,143 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) reports [median earnings of $79,143](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 9%. |
| 2 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $73,647 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with a [median of $21,500](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) in federal debt among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed. |
| 3 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $73,418 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | An [average net price of $9,338](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/cost/) coincides with [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/)'s 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 4 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $73,337 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) [admits 42% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-davis/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $73,337 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $73,305 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) ranks 5th on this list, with an [average net price of $7,851](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 6 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $71,631 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) reports [median earnings of $71,631](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 34 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $70,820 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/)'s Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed left with a [median of $14,916](/school/university-of-california-irvine/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 8 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $69,989 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
|  | [California State University-Bakersfield](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) posts an [average net price of $5,652,](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/cost/) the lowest on this list, and a school-wide median federal debt of $16,600 across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $69,227 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | Median earnings of $69,227 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing place [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) 9th on this list. |
| 10 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $68,883 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
|  | [University of Wyoming](/school/university-of-wyoming/majors/) [admits 97% of applicants](/school/university-of-wyoming/admissions/) and reports a median of $18,960 in federal debt among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed. |
| 11 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $67,208 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $67,208](/school/western-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 52 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 12 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $66,845 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/)'s Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed left with a [median of $19,000](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school reports an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 13 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $66,788 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | Ranks 13th on this list, [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) reports [median earnings of $66,788](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $16,109. |
| 14 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $64,499 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 66%](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/admissions/), [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and shows median earnings of $64,499 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 15 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $63,387 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) posts [median earnings of $63,387](/school/university-of-arizona/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, and its earnings cohort of 58 graduates sits above the page median of $57,989. |
| 16 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $62,867 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [University of Utah](/school/university-of-utah/majors/) with a [median of $19,000](/school/university-of-utah/outcomes/) in federal loans, while its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $62,867 four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $60,453 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) [ranks 174th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $60,453 four years after completing. |
| 18 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $60,402 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $9,709](/school/northern-arizona-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $60,402 four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $59,677 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) [ranks 31st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-riverside/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $59,677 four years after completing. |
| 20 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $58,891 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) reports an [average net price of $6,555,](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/cost/) and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $58,891 four years after completing. |
| 21 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $58,472 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University reports median earnings of $58,472 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing and a school-wide median federal debt of $22,578. |
| 22 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $57,989 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
|  | University of Northern Colorado admits 86% of applicants, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $57,989 four years after completing. |
| 23 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $57,932 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $57,932](/school/portland-state-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,655 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 24 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $56,304 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
|  | Fort Lewis College ranks 909th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earned a median of $56,304 four years after completing. |
| 25 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $53,995 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,995](/school/boise-state-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 26 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $53,987 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [Central Washington University](/school/central-washington-university/majors/) left with a [median of $19,500](/school/central-washington-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school ranks 339th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 27 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $53,371 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) [admits 98% of applicants](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $8,483 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 28 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $52,278 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Las Vegas](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/majors/) ranks 28th on this list, and its Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed left with a [median of $15,000](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/outcomes/) in federal loans. |
| 29 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $52,007 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | With [median earnings of $52,007](/school/university-of-oregon/outcomes/) four years after completing, [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) sits just below the list median of $57,989. |
| 30 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $50,856 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) [ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $10,440. |
| 31 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $50,439 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $5,105](/school/california-state-university-fresno/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $50,439 for Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing at [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/). |
| 32 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $49,241 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
|  | Montana State University ranks 32nd on this list, with a cohort of 49 graduates in the earnings cohort and median federal debt of $20,064 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed. |
| 33 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $45,002 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
|  | [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $45,002](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $7,074 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 34 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $44,971 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) [admits 74% of applicants](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/admissions/) and ranks 209th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 35 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $44,384 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | Median earnings of $44,384 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing and an [average net price of $15,664](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/cost/) are reported by [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/). |
| 36 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $42,774 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) [ranks 91st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-chico/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a cohort of 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 37 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $34,526 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
|  | [Eastern Washington University](/school/eastern-washington-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $34,526](/school/eastern-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with 11 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 38 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $33,993 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) ranks 38th on this list and posts an [average net price of $19,604](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/) alongside an admission rate of 77%. |
| 39 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $33,281 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/sonoma-state-university/admissions/) and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $33,281 four years after completing. |
| 40 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $29,685 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
|  | The University of Montana sits 829th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 41 | Idaho State University · Pocatello, ID | $28,019 | $12,193 | $10,593 | Not reported |
|  | Idaho State University posts an average net price of $10,593 for families earning under $30,000 and counts 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 42 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $24,035 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Provo, reports [median earnings of $24,035](/school/brigham-young-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 43 | Colorado College · Colorado Springs, CO | $21,508 | $33,375 | $9,217 | 18.5% |
|  | Colorado College ranks 43rd on this list with an admission rate of 18% and an average net price of $9,217 for families earning under $30,000. |

## 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 West appear. The figure is the median for federally aided Geology and Earth Sciences completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 12 of the 43 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 California-Los Angeles to the bottom of the list is $57,635, and the gap between University of California-Los Angeles and San Diego State University is $5,496.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in the West