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Seismic observer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a seismic observer. Seismic observers usually study geology, electrical engineering, or management. 27% of seismic observers hold a master's degree, and 27% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 42 real seismic observer resumes to see exactly what seismic observer education sections show.
The most common colleges for seismic observers are the Florida State University and the Florida State University.
There are also many online seismic observer courses to help get the education required to be a seismic observer.
What education do you need to become a seismic observer?
What degree do you need to be a seismic observer?
- Master's, 27%
- High School Diploma, 27%
- Bachelor's, 27%
- Associate, 7%
- Other Degrees, 12%
What should I major in to become a seismic observer?
- Geology, 19%
- Management, 6%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for seismic observers
| Seismic observer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Florida State University | 14.29% |
| Texas College | 14.29% |
| College of the Atlantic | 14.29% |
| National University | 14.29% |
| The University of West Florida | 14.29% |
Best majors for seismic observers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geology | 18.8% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 18.8% |
| 3 | Management | 6.3% |
| 4 | Medical Technician | 6.3% |
| 5 | Computer Networking | 6.3% |
Best colleges for seismic observers
The best colleges for seismic observers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
A seismic observer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for seismic observers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become seismic observers.
1. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
8. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Enrollment
24,841
9. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
10. Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$8,184
Enrollment
11,675
20 best online courses for seismic observers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for seismic observers
The most affordable schools for seismic observers are California State University - Long Beach, university of florida, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for seismic observers 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 seismic observers.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
10. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for seismic observers
The hardest universities for seismic observers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for seismic observers 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 seismic observers 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
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. Princeton University
Princeton, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,503
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for seismic observers
The easiest schools for seismic observers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, kean university, and capitol technology university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a seismic observer 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 seismic observers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
3. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
4. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois
DuBois, PA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,079
5. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
6. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
7. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
8. Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,072
9. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
1,086
10. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
Average seismic observer salary by education level
| Seismic observer education level | Seismic observer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $57,875 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $44,853 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,487 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $50,838 |
Seismic observer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025