How to Study Paleontology: Degree Paths and Realistic Careers: our program database does not currently hold records matching this category, and we would rather say so than pad the list with programs that do not offer this focus. The guidance below explains how to evaluate this specialization, what federal wage data says about the occupations it leads to, and which related rankings hold the programs worth comparing. Last reviewed August 14, 2026.
You will not find a paleontology bachelors degree at most universities, and chasing one is the wrong move anyway. Paleontology is a research specialization built on top of a geology or biology degree. If you are serious, the plan is a funded doctorate and a second employable specialization built alongside it.
Can you major in paleontology?
At the undergraduate level, almost nowhere. Paleontology is taught as a specialization within geology, earth science, and biology departments rather than as a standalone major. That is not a gap in the market. A paleontologist needs the full stratigraphy, sedimentology, and field methods foundation that a geology degree provides, and a narrow undergraduate degree would leave you less prepared, not more.
What degree do you need to be a paleontologist?
A bachelor degree in geology or biology, undergraduate research experience starting in your second year, then a funded doctorate. Geology is usually the stronger base because stratigraphy and field methods are central to the work. Research and curatorial positions effectively require the doctorate.
How many paleontology jobs are there?
Federal data does not break paleontologists out separately; they are counted within the geoscientists occupation, which holds about 25,100 jobs with roughly 2,000 annual openings across every specialization it contains. Academic and museum paleontology is a small fraction of that and turns over slowly. We are not going to put a specific number on it, because no published source supports one.
Is there any paleontology work outside universities and museums?
Yes, and it is the route most students never hear about. Paleontological resource mitigation on construction, energy, and infrastructure projects exists because environmental review requirements mandate it. It is field-based, it pays, and it is funded by regulation rather than by research grants, which makes it considerably more stable than academic work.
What should I study alongside paleontology?
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochemistry, and GIS. Each of these makes you a better paleontologist and each makes you employable in the much larger geoscience market if the research position does not materialize. Building this second specialization is not hedging, it is the standard professional practice in a field this size.
Should I do a paleontology PhD?
Only funded. In a field with this few positions, an unfunded doctorate is a serious financial mistake regardless of how compelling the subject is. If the offer does not come with a stipend and tuition remission, that is information about your prospects in the field, not just about that program budget.
Which programs should I look at?
Follow the faculty, not the institution. Identify researchers publishing on the organisms and periods that interest you, then look at where they teach and whether they take students. For paleontology more than any other specialization, your advisor determines your career, and our program database does not hold dedicated paleontology degrees because they largely do not exist as separate credentials.
How we scored these programs
The Program Quality Index distributes 100 points across seven factors. Every factor is derived from information the institution publishes about its own program, which means any score here is reproducible and any disagreement with it can be specific rather than vague.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Applied and field experience | 20 | Documented field, laboratory, practicum, capstone, mapping, or internship content in the program or department. |
| Departmental depth | 18 | The number of related programs the institution runs in this subject area. Depth signals faculty coverage and elective choice. |
| Credential ladder | 15 | Whether you can progress within the institution from certificate through associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. |
| Curriculum transparency | 15 | Whether the institution publishes accessible curriculum detail. Programs that hide their course lists score lower, by design. |
| Specialization clarity | 12 | Whether the program names a defined focus rather than presenting a generic title. |
| Research environment | 10 | Graduate and doctoral presence in the unit, and named institutes or centers. |
| Delivery flexibility | 10 | Documented online or flexible delivery, where the institution states it. |
What this index does not measure
This is the section most ranking sites omit, which is why we lead with it. The index does not capture teaching quality, graduate salaries, admission selectivity, financial aid generosity, or job placement. It cannot, because those things are either unpublished, self-reported by the institution, or both.
It also does not price the program. Cost is the single largest variable in whether an earth science degree pays off, and it varies by residency, aid, and year in ways a national score cannot represent. Get the actual number from the institution and weigh it more heavily than anything on this page.
How to use this list properly
Treat it as a starting shortlist, not a verdict. The next steps are the ones that decide the outcome, and they involve talking to people rather than reading rankings.
- Email the department and ask what the field or applied requirement actually involves, in days and in cost.
- Ask which employers hired from the last two graduating classes, and treat a vague answer as an answer.
- If you intend to pursue licensure, check the curriculum against your state board coursework requirements now.
- Compare total cost after aid, not sticker price, and include any field or travel requirement.
- Ask how many students are in the required courses. Class size affects field instruction more than lecture quality.
Related rankings
Best Geology Certificate Programs
Short credentials in GIS, geospatial technology, environmental science, and applied earth science. The fastest route into technical work, and the easiest one to get wrong.
RankingBest Associate in Geology Programs
Two-year technical pathways into geological and hydrologic technician work, geospatial technology, and environmental field roles.
RankingBest Bachelor in Geology Programs
The four-year degree that gates most professional earth science work, including the education requirement behind Professional Geologist licensure.
RankingBest Geology Masters Degree Programs
Graduate programs in geology, hydrogeology, geospatial information science, and environmental science, including professional and thesis tracks.
RankingBest Doctorate in Geology Programs
Research doctorates in geology, geosciences, and geographic information science.
RankingBest GIS and Geospatial Programs
The largest category we track, and the one where earth science graduates actually get hired.
Frequently asked questions
Can you major in paleontology?
At the undergraduate level, almost nowhere. Paleontology is taught as a specialization within geology, earth science, and biology departments rather than as a standalone major. That is not a gap in the market. A paleontologist needs the full stratigraphy, sedimentology, and field methods foundation that a geology degree provides, and a narrow undergraduate degree would leave you less prepared, not more.
What degree do you need to be a paleontologist?
A bachelor degree in geology or biology, undergraduate research experience starting in your second year, then a funded doctorate. Geology is usually the stronger base because stratigraphy and field methods are central to the work. Research and curatorial positions effectively require the doctorate.
How many paleontology jobs are there?
Federal data does not break paleontologists out separately; they are counted within the geoscientists occupation, which holds about 25,100 jobs with roughly 2,000 annual openings across every specialization it contains. Academic and museum paleontology is a small fraction of that and turns over slowly. We are not going to put a specific number on it, because no published source supports one.
Is there any paleontology work outside universities and museums?
Yes, and it is the route most students never hear about. Paleontological resource mitigation on construction, energy, and infrastructure projects exists because environmental review requirements mandate it. It is field-based, it pays, and it is funded by regulation rather than by research grants, which makes it considerably more stable than academic work.
What should I study alongside paleontology?
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochemistry, and GIS. Each of these makes you a better paleontologist and each makes you employable in the much larger geoscience market if the research position does not materialize. Building this second specialization is not hedging, it is the standard professional practice in a field this size.
Should I do a paleontology PhD?
Only funded. In a field with this few positions, an unfunded doctorate is a serious financial mistake regardless of how compelling the subject is. If the offer does not come with a stipend and tuition remission, that is information about your prospects in the field, not just about that program budget.
Which programs should I look at?
Follow the faculty, not the institution. Identify researchers publishing on the organisms and periods that interest you, then look at where they teach and whether they take students. For paleontology more than any other specialization, your advisor determines your career, and our program database does not hold dedicated paleontology degrees because they largely do not exist as separate credentials.
How did you choose these programs?
Every program in our database is scored with the Program Quality Index, a seven-factor system using only attributes institutions publish about their own programs. We list one entry per institution so a single large department does not fill the ranking.
Does a higher score mean I will get a better job?
No. The index measures documented program characteristics, not graduate outcomes. It is a research tool for narrowing a list, and it should be followed by contacting the departments directly.
Why is a school I expected to see missing?
Our database covers the institutions we track in this subject area, and it is not exhaustive. A program may also rank lower if the institution does not publish accessible curriculum detail, which the index treats as a negative signal.
Should I only apply to programs on this list?
No. Use it to build a shortlist, then evaluate cost, location, field requirements, and licensure alignment for your own situation. A lower-ranked local public program you can afford often beats a higher-ranked one you cannot.