Geoscientist education requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a geoscientist?

You need a bachelor's degree to be a geoscientist. A four-year degree in geoscience or a related field will make you qualified for entry-level positions in the field. While working toward your undergraduate degree in geoscience or environmental science, students acquire a basic knowledge of geological terminology and sample collection. Many geoscience students have their first field experiences as undergraduates. Approximately 65% of geologists have a bachelor's degree. Pursuing a master's degree in geoscience is often necessary to become an expert in a specialized field of geoscience, such as mineralogy and petrology. Nearly 30% of geoscientists hold a master's degree in a specialized area of geoscience. Additional education, such as a Ph.D., can allow you to enter the field of education related to geology. Professors teach at universities, conduct research, and publish their findings. Approximately 6% of geoscientists have a Ph.D.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a geoscientist. Geoscientists usually study geology, geological engineering, or environmental science. 65% of geoscientists hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 432 real geoscientist resumes to see exactly what geoscientist education sections show.

The most common colleges for geoscientists are the University of Houston and the University of Houston.

There are also many online geoscientist courses to help get the education required to be a geoscientist.

What education do you need to become a geoscientist?

What degree do you need to be a geoscientist?

The most common degree for geoscientists is bachelor's degree, with 65% of geoscientists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 27% and master's degree degree at 6%.

Bachelor's, 65%

Master's, 27%

Doctorate, 6%

Associate, 1%

Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a geoscientist?

You should major in geology to become a geoscientist. 74% of geoscientists major in geology. Other common majors for a geoscientist include geological engineering and environmental science.

Geology, 74%

Geological Engineering, 5%

Environmental Science, 4%

Biology, 2%

Other Majors, 15%

Most common colleges for geoscientists

Geoscientists often get their degrees at University of Houston, University of Texas at Austin, and Colorado School of Mines. Here are the most common colleges for geoscientists in the US based on their resumes.

Geoscientist common college	Percentages
University of Houston	12.82%
University of Texas at Austin	11.54%
Colorado School of Mines	8.97%
Texas A&M University	7.69%
Michigan Technological University	5.13%

Show more common geoscientist colleges

Best majors for geoscientists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Geology	74.0%
2	Geological Engineering	5.1%
3	Environmental Science	3.8%
4	Biology	1.9%
5	Petroleum Engineering	1.9%

Show more common geoscientist majors

$7,260

Enrollment

25,799

20 best online courses for geoscientists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for geoscientists

The most affordable schools for geoscientists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and minot state university.

If the best universities for geoscientists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for geoscientists.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

4. Queens College of the City University of New York

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for geoscientists

The hardest universities for geoscientists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for geoscientists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for geoscientists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,449

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,465

8. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,517

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

10. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for geoscientists

The easiest schools for geoscientists to get into are Wayland Baptist University, kean university, and san francisco state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a geoscientist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for geoscientists.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

3. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

4. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

5. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

6. Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Lock Haven, PA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

1,020

7. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

8. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,073

9. University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,050

10. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

Average geoscientist salary by education level

According to our data, geoscientists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $132,554 annually. Geoscientists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $121,380.

Geoscientist education level	Geoscientist salary
Master's Degree	$121,380
Bachelor's Degree	$107,913
Doctorate Degree	$132,554

Geoscientist education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a geoscientist?

What is the best college for Geoscientists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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