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Geoscience Engineering

Instructional content is defined in code 14.3901.

Types of Degrees Geoscience Engineering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Geoscience Engineering may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	1
Bachelor’s Degree	120
Master’s Degree	180
Doctor’s Degree	12

What Geoscience Engineering Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Geoscience Engineering build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Geoscience Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Geoscience Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Geoscience Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Geoscience Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Geoscience Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Geoscience Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Geoscience Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Agricultural Engineering Teacher
• Mechanical Engineering Professor
• Petroleum Engineering Teacher
• Adjunct Instructor
• Mechanical Drawing Teacher
• Geological Engineering Teacher
• Radar Engineering Teacher
• Hydraulics Teacher
• College Faculty Member
• Machine Design Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Electronics Teacher
• Adjunct Engineering Instructor
• University Faculty Member

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Geoscience Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	32.9%
Doctoral degree	28.6%
Master’s degree	11.2%
Post-doctoral training	7.5%
Post-master’s certificate	7.0%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	4.3%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Some college courses	1.6%
First professional degree	1.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Geoscience Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.2% of Geoscience Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	84	26.8%
Men	229	73.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Geoscience Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	199	63.6%
Asian	10	3.2%
Hispanic or Latino	37	11.8%
Black or African American	5	1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.3%
Two or More Races	15	4.8%
Race Unknown	17	5.4%
International Students	29	9.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Geoscience Engineering Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Geoscience Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$70,515
4 years	$81,095
5 years	$90,120

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $90,120 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Geoscience Engineering Programs

Distance learning are documented by IPEDS for Geoscience Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	1	2

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Geoscience Engineering Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Geoscience Engineering graduates earn a median of $81,095 four years after completion — roughly 113% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.