2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Southeast 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences students.
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2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, no school beat Murray State University this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $20,212. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #3 place for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $61,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky 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 city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University placed #6 among the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Students borrow a median of $28,493 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Soon after graduation, other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Old Dominion University placed #7 among the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $26,001. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Mississippi State University landed the #8 spot for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences value this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,286 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $53,101 early in their careers. Set against $26,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
George Mason University earned the #9 position for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Georgia State University came in at #10 for value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Soon after graduation, other geological & earth sciences/geosciences degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $46,337. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
College Of Charleston ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $49,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Miami placed #12 among the best values for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $17,750. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $57,234. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $22,077. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.