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2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

11 Ranked Colleges
340 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 6,024 people earned their degree in geology and earth sciences, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 340 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geology and earth sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geology and earth sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geology and earth sciences program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 28 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,698 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UMN Twin Cities Geology & Earth Sciences Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,766 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Iowa State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

3
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Carleton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carleton, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton College is $6,208 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Carleton

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Morris has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $3,941 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,843 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Duluth

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $13,554 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Iowa

7

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Columbia

8

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 30 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,381 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #9, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $15,666 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend KU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at KU

10

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,724 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

11
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Winona State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $11,721 for plains states region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Winona State

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