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2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid

181 Ranked Colleges
6,024 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 For Those Getting Aid” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 181 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geology and earth sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

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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 Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (With Aid)

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Out of the 181 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 64 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geology students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford is $12,894 for Geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Stanford University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for geology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Geology & Earth Sciences Report

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid. University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $5,135 for Geology students with aid per year to attend UF.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Florida

4
Middlesex County College crest
Middlesex County College
Edison, New Jersey

Out of the 181 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Middlesex County College landed the #4 spot on the list. Edison, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Middlesex County College is $9,950 for Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Middlesex County College

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 20 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNC Chapel Hill also did well on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,469 for Geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Geology & Earth Sciences Report

6
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW is $11,085 for Geology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full UW Geology & Earth Sciences Report

7

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,302 for Geology students with aid per year to attend Cal State LA.

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 full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Los Angeles

8

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 50 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $18,350 for Geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UT Austin

9

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 46 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $17,234 for Geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Geology & Earth Sciences Report

10

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for geology students with aid.

The undergrad 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 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full USF Tampa Geology & Earth Sciences Report

11
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #11, University of Houston did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 60 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UH excels when it comes to geology quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $13,721 for geology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full University of Houston Geology & Earth Sciences Report

12

California State University - Long Beach landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $10,054 for Geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at CSULB

13

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geology students with aid list, UCSB has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,252 for geology students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Geology & Earth Sciences Report

14

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $14,878 for Geology students with aid.

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

15

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. University of California - San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geology students with aid list, UCSD has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for Geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of California - San Diego

16

With a ranking of #16, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $14,321 for Geology students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Geology & Earth Sciences Report

17

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $8,003 for geology students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Cal State Fullerton

18

University of California - Berkeley came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geology students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $16,032 for geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 California - Berkeley

19

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 14 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geology students with aid list, UCLA has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $15,023 for geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Geology & Earth Sciences Report

20

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - College Station is $18,919 for Geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Texas A&M College Station Geology & Earth Sciences Report

21
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

With a ranking of #21, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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.

Full Purdue Geology & Earth Sciences Report

22

The City College of New York landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. CCNY is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for The City College of New York is $2,805 for Geology students with aid.

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 CCNY

23

With a ranking of #23, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid 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 also claimed a top spot on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $16,002 for Geology students with aid per year to attend Iowa State.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Iowa State University

24
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

Lehman College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Bronx, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,614 for geology students with aid per year to attend Lehman College.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Lehman College

25

University of California - Davis landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $15,768 for Geology students with aid per year to attend University of California - Davis.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of California - Davis Geology & Earth Sciences Report

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Geology Schools For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
27
28

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