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2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

12 Ranked Colleges
526 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 95th most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,705 and had an average of $23,383 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 526 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,791 and $24,175 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in geological and earth sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geological and earth sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region

1

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 26 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

BYU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Provo

2
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 45 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW is $11,085 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UW

3
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Utah. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 39 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of U, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $13,572 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Utah

4
MSU Bozeman crest
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Montana State University landed the #4 spot on the list. MSU Bozeman is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Bozeman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Bozeman is $19,453 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana State University

5
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Idaho landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Idaho is located in Moscow, Idaho and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

U of I not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Idaho is $13,964 for rocky mountains region geology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U of I

6

University of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This fairly large school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 23 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Northern Colorado did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Colorado is $15,570 for rocky mountains region geology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Colorado

7

Colorado State University - Fort Collins ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Colorado State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State is $18,679 for rocky mountains region geology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Colorado State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Boise State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Boise, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Boise State is $16,153 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Boise State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

9
FLC crest
Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado

With a ranking of #9, Fort Lewis College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. FLC is located in Durango, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students list, FLC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $16,255 for rocky mountains region geology students per year to attend FLC.

Full Fort Lewis College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

10

University of Colorado Boulder landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. CU - Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $20,967 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students per year to attend CU - Boulder.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full CU - Boulder Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11
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Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #11. Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students list, Mines has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $27,114 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students per year to attend Colorado School of Mines.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado School of Mines

12

With a ranking of #12, Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. MSU Denver is a public institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Denver also took the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University of Denver is $14,313 for rocky mountains region geology students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Denver

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