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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

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

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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” 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” ranking looked at 15 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

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 a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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

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

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

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SD Mines, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SD Mines is $19,815 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Northern Iowa Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #3 spot on the list. Duluth, Minnesota 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.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#10 in overall quality

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Northwest also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Northwest

#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 ranking, coming in at #6. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

FHSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at FHSU

#11 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Missouri State

#8 in overall quality

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Iowa State University

#9

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend Kansas State University.

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

Full K -State Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#10

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

University of Kansas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 21 bachelors’s geology degrees 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. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $18,918 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at KU

#11

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,382 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend Wichita State University.

Full Wichita State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 6 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low 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 University of Missouri - Columbia

#13

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees 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. It costs about $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

#14

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $14,643 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s 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 yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $19,093 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students.

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

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

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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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