Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,786/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,600 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 103 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $576K $567K $526K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.1x 10.9x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.8x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 60% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,912
Out-of-state: $147,432 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,072
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,659
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,731
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,786 per year, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates from College of Charleston earn slightly above the $39,933 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $22,659 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #10 of 103 programs, College of Charleston's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $59,731 are relatively flat compared to the $49,786 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About College of Charleston

With 72% of applicants admitted, College of Charleston prioritizes broad access, serving 10,366 students in Charleston, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at College of Charleston →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers $99,240/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at College of Charleston?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences field.
Will AI replace Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $525,639 in decade earnings vs $576,215 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →