2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences-other/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Michigan Technological University the best value for a degree in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $23,250. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $57,461. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $41,156. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Western Michigan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $27,981. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $48,966. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $49,660. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $45,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
