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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
284 Degrees Awarded
$10,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Geology & Earth Sciences is the 101st most popular major in the country with 7,036 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 382 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 284 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in geology and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geology and earth sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geology and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Morris has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $4,230 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Morris.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,266 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNI.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Iowa

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Iowa State

#6 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#7

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $14,232 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Kansas State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#12 in overall quality

Fort Hays State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

FHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $9,464 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Fort Hays State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $9,990 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University

#10

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

University of Kansas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $14,387 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Kansas Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,527 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield

#1 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, SD Mines has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SD Mines is $15,464 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

#13

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WSU is $11,642 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at WSU

#14

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus is $12,150 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#15

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $12,065 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Geology & Earth Sciences Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.

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