2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools
California State University Fullerton tops our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools in the Far Western Region. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $15,125. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $35,509. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $50,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $10,492. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned it the #5 place for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $16,298 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $41,963 early in their careers. Set against $16,298 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Portland State University earned the #6 position for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $24,125. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $47,717. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #7 among the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $29,724. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University earned the #8 position for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,586, compared with $26,583 for out-of-state students. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $21,754 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $47,144 early in their careers. Set against $21,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Sonoma State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,624, with out-of-state students paying around $21,224. Students borrow a median of $18,031 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $51,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #10 for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $16,097. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Central Washington University came in at #11 for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Students from in state pay about $9,417 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $21,988. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $44,178. Set against $21,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #12 among the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $48,489 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Oregon State University landed the #13 spot for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences value this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $39,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Whitman College earned the #14 position for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,050 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Soon after graduation, other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree recipients from Whitman College generally make around $32,345. Set against $17,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 6 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.
[Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other geological & earth sciences/geosciences education at a price that pays off.
