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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

15 Ranked Colleges
284 Degrees Awarded
$16,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 7,036 people earned their degree in geology and earth sciences, making the major the 101st most popular in the United States.

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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The geology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.

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. 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 a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#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 Getting Aid list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 1 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

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 more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UNI

#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 #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree 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 student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #4 spot on the list. 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. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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 University of Missouri - Columbia

#5

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

#13 in overall quality

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University

#12 in overall quality

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

FHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Fort Hays State University

#8

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at K -State

#1 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend SD Mines is $19,815 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

#10

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,918 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend University of Kansas.

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

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at KU

#9 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend UMN Duluth.

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

#12

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

Wichita State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, WSU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,382 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Wichita State University

#13

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $14,643 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMKC

#11 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, Missouri State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

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

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 4 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $19,093 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low 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%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus

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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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