Program Analysis
At $43,362 per year, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz earn slightly above the $39,933 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.9x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $20,833 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #7 of 103 programs, University of California-Santa Cruz's Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $72,711 show a 68% jump from the $43,362 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.