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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region

25 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$27,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Far Western US region, there were 1,335 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 195 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 25 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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nevada - Reno. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Nevada - Reno is a large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Reno are $21,971.

Full UNR Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Long Beach

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Fullerton

#22 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fresno State Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #5 spot on the list. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #17 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#6

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon
#8 in overall quality

Oregon State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Corvallis, Oregon, and it awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree geology students list, Oregon State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oregon State are $28,121.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Oregon State

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#14 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree geology students list, SDSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SDSU Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Bakersfield landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

CSUB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437.

Full CSUB Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UCSD

#3 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#11

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Western Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

WWU also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at WWU are $24,105, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at WWU

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Sacramento

#13

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSB Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#5 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Davis Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#24 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA also took the #24 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#16

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Central Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. CWU is a public institution located in Ellensburg, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CWU are $24,976, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Central Washington University

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UC Irvine

#18

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon
#24 in overall quality

Portland State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Portland, Oregon, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Portland State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Portland State University are $23,784.

Full Portland State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#19

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#19 in overall quality

University of Oregon ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UO is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree geology students list, UO has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Oregon

#20

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

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

#21

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Full UC Berkeley Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#22

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #16 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Full University of California - Riverside Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#23

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#12 in overall quality

University of Hawaii at Manoa ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UH Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 9 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Manoa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UH Manoa

#24

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#2 in overall quality

Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Stanford

#25

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#1 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Caltech also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Caltech 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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