[Earth Systems Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/earth-systems-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong earth systems science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for earth systems science students.
Finding the Best Value Earth Systems Science School for You
The right earth systems science school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Earth Systems Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Earth Systems Science Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Arizona State University, our #1 best value for earth systems science in the United States. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Earth Systems Science graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Early-career earth systems science graduates make about $55,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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).
[Earth Systems Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/earth-systems-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong earth systems science education at a price that pays off.
