2027 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences students.
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2027 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
For return on investment in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, no school beat University Of Wyoming this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $23,700 in student loans. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $45,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Utah State University one of the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Utah one of the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $20,798. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $49,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana earned it the #4 place for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Colorado School Of Mines is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $24,521. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $79,523 early in their careers. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 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.