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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region

42 Ranked Colleges
723 Degrees Awarded
$16,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 951 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 723 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 42 colleges that offered a degree 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,748 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

The school has an impressive 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 UW - River Falls

#2

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stevens Point, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. UW - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Full UW - Green Bay Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Full UW - Eau Claire Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#5

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Michigan University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $19,433 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at WMU

#6

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 26 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $17,646 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at GVSU

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,463 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large 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 great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students list, NIU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $18,259 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at NIU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $16,945 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend SIUC.

Full SIUC Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 1 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend WIU is $16,210 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Full WIU Geology & Earth Sciences Report

University of Wisconsin - Parkside came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $11,327 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

#12

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Illinois State.

The low 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Illinois State

#13

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #13, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,924 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Full Eastern Michigan University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#14

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Purdue.

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 Purdue University - Main Campus

Kent State University at Kent landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $18,885 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

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

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#17

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for USI is $13,437 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Southern Indiana Geology & Earth Sciences Report

Wright State University - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $16,823 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#19

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend PFW is $10,912 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Purdue University Fort Wayne

#20

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #20, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana State is $13,896 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

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

#21

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,876 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UWM

#22

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students list, Ball State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $15,147 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Ball State

#23

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,981 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend Central Michigan University.

Full Central Michigan Geology & Earth Sciences Report

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UC is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $21,843 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend UC.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UC

#19 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 18 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UIC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students.

The 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 full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago

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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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