Back
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
What you'll do in college
This category focuses on the physical processes of our planet and its atmosphere. Coursework leans heavily into physics, chemistry, geology, and advanced math. You will study everything from plate tectonics and deep-ocean currents to severe weather patterns and planetary history. Field work is often central: mapping geological formations, analyzing ice cores, or deploying weather balloons.
What you'll do after college
Grads work for government agencies (USGS, NOAA, NASA), energy and mining companies, meteorological stations, and environmental consulting firms. Day-to-day work often involves fieldwork, operating specialized lab equipment, or running complex predictive computer models. Many pursue graduate degrees for advanced research or specialized industry roles.
Famous graduates
- Harrison Schmitt — Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist; B.S. in Geology from Caltech
- Kathryn Sullivan — First American woman to walk in space and former NOAA Administrator; B.S. in Earth Sciences from UC Santa Cruz
- Stephen Jay Gould — Paleontologist and evolutionary biologist; B.A. in Geology from Antioch College
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings
By SAT median
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth & Atmospheric Sciences | 427 | 5,981 | 50% / 50% | 3% | $61,006 |
| Geosciences | 260 | 2,614 | 52% / 48% | 3% | $59,953 |
| Geology | 51 | 408 | 47% / 53% | 1% | $58,493 |
| Meteorology | 24 | 318 | 61% / 39% | 1% | $61,069 |
| Marine Sciences | 13 | 318 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $48,884 |
| Earth Sciences | 19 | 263 | 52% / 48% | 2% | $65,333 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 30 | 258 | 57% / 43% | 0% | $66,264 |
| Marine Science | 4 | 215 | 69% / 31% | 2% | $60,497 |
| Oceanography | 15 | 186 | 46% / 54% | 3% | $64,908 |
| Natural and Applied Sciences | 1 | 144 | 32% / 68% | 1% | |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences | 8 | 119 | 41% / 59% | 3% | $53,350 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 16 | 113 | 42% / 58% | 2% | $57,064 |
| Atmospheric Sciences | 9 | 93 | 51% / 49% | 3% | $77,885 |
| Earth Science | 12 | 85 | 56% / 44% | 2% | $70,528 |
| Earth System Science | 4 | 80 | 52% / 48% | 1% | $63,050 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences | 10 | 77 | 49% / 51% | 6% | $75,467 |
| Geological Sciences | 4 | 64 | 45% / 55% | 3% | $66,620 |
| Geology and Geophysics | 3 | 64 | 45% / 55% | 5% | $76,951 |
| Atmospheric Science | 5 | 51 | 53% / 47% | 0% | |
| Earth and Space Exploration | 1 | 49 | 43% / 57% | 4% | $63,966 |
| Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | 2 | 36 | 39% / 61% | 0% | |
| Hydrology and Water Resources Science | 12 | 35 | 63% / 37% | 0% | $60,920 |
| Earth and Planetary Sciences | 6 | 35 | 34% / 66% | 3% | |
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | 4 | 35 | 46% / 54% | 3% | |
| Geophysics | 9 | 31 | 55% / 45% | 3% | $75,327 |
| Earth Systems | 1 | 30 | 17% / 83% | 23% | |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences (Geological) | 1 | 28 | 39% / 61% | 0% | |
| Geology/Earth Science | 4 | 26 | 46% / 54% | 4% | |
| Earth Systems Science | 2 | 23 | 43% / 57% | 0% | |
| Climate Science | 3 | 19 | 58% / 42% | 11% | |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 9 | 18 | 78% / 22% | 22% | $58,944 |
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Science | 1 | 18 | 61% / 39% | 0% | |
| Engineering Geology | 1 | 17 | 12% / 88% | 6% | |
| Renewable Energy | 1 | 15 | 100% / 0% | 7% | $73,506 |
| Earth and Environmental Science | 1 | 14 | 29% / 71% | 0% | |
| Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences | 1 | 13 | 31% / 69% | 0% | |
| Earth and Space Sciences | 1 | 12 | 67% / 33% | 33% | $66,428 |
| Earth and Environmental Studies | 1 | 10 | 20% / 80% | 0% | |
| Geochemistry | 6 | 9 | 33% / 67% | 0% | |
| Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences | 1 | 9 | 78% / 22% | 0% | |
| Geophysical Sciences | 1 | 6 | 67% / 33% | 0% | |
| Planetary Science | 3 | 5 | 60% / 40% | 0% | |
| Meteorology and Climate Science | 1 | 5 | 60% / 40% | 0% | |
| Earth and Planetary Science | 1 | 4 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $65,888 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Course 12) | 1 | 4 | 0% / 100% | 0% | |
| Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences | 1 | 2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | |
| Geological and Planetary Sciences | 1 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 0% | |
| Climate System Science and Engineering (Course 1-12) | 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% |