2023 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
29
Ranked Colleges
731
Degrees Awarded
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 731 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geology and earth sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geology and earth sciences programs, but they also 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $5,849 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Northwestern University Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 62 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,481 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, 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 96%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $10,364 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UW - Madison
Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $8,450 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 93%.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Purdue
Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Geology & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #6, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Beloit College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and it awarded 7 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Beloit is $10,850 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Beloit College
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 28 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad 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 Ohio State University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,105 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Geology & Earth Sciences Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UW - River Falls
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,306 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend IUPUI.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Ball State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 9 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $15,158 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Ball State
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,737 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 34 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Michigan State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $20,557 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Michigan State
Grand Valley State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $15,277 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at GVSU
Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 15 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $13,612 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Wayne State University
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,840 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Western Michigan University Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 37 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Wright State University - Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $16,871 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus Geology & Earth Sciences Report
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,606 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #20, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 7 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $19,293 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Illinois State University
With a ranking of #21, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana State University is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,588 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana State.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Indiana State
With a ranking of #22, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC is $20,867 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UC
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 6 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,547 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Eastern Michigan
Miami University - Oxford ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $23,513 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Miami University - Oxford Geology & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
UWM also took the #24 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,606 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
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