2026 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Geological & Geophysical Engineering](/majors/engineering/geoscience-engineering/geological-geophysical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geological & geophysical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geological & geophysical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among geological & geophysical engineering schools in the United States. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Geological & Geophysical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,970 in student loans. Early-career geological & geophysical engineering graduates make about $59,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & geophysical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for geological & geophysical engineering graduates is $27,000. Geological & Geophysical Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $68,694 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Other Geological & Geophysical Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Geological & Geophysical Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Geological & Geophysical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.