2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region
131
Ranked Colleges
1,632
Degrees Awarded
$32,900
Avg Cost*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 Far Western US region, there were 1,632 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,732 and $20,537 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 131 colleges that offered a degree in geological and earth sciences. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geological and earth sciences.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college 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.
Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California Institute of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 100 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Alaska Fairbanks. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region. Fairbanks, Alaska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UAF
Out of the 131 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Occidental College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Oxy
Out of the 131 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Walla Walla, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Whitman
Pacific Lutheran University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. PLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tacoma, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Pacific Lutheran University
Western Washington University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at WWU
Washington State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Wazzu is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 130 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Washington State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #9. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 65 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #11, University of Hawaii at Hilo did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of Hawaii at Hilo is a small public school situated in Hilo, Hawaii. It awarded 7 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full UH Hilo Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Oregon State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Corvallis, Oregon, this large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Oregon State University
Pitzer College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pitzer is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 2 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Pitzer
With a ranking of #14, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 127 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UW Seattle
University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #15. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 33 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full University of Hawaii at Manoa Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Alaska Pacific University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This small school is located in Anchorage, Alaska, and it awarded 1 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Alaska Pacific University
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 53 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.
Full University of California - Santa Barbara Geological & Earth Sciences Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of California - Merced came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Merced
University of Nevada - Reno came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. UNR is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s geology degrees to qualified 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%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UNR
With a ranking of #21, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 75 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UCSD
With a ranking of #22, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. SSU is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 SSU
University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 70 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 94%.
Full UC Irvine Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #24, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at CSUB
University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 34 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
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