2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in New York

[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value geology & earth sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geology & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #1 spot for value among geology & earth sciences schools in New York. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $40,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $20,537. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $18,500. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $40,524 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
A rank of #4 makes Suny At Geneseo one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,999, with out-of-state students paying around $19,569. Students borrow a median of $24,275 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $27,395. Set against $24,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University At Buffalo one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $39,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $21,065 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $34,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #7 for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,691 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Cortland ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,874 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,784. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $25,369. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $38,709. That is a strong return on a $25,369 median debt. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
Cornell University earned the #9 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Hamilton College earned the #10 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,960. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $16,131. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Union College New York ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Schenectady. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,039. Students borrow a median of $25,869 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $52,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Union College New York admits about 44% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #12 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Vassar College earned the #13 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,030 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $18,486. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $37,412. That is a strong return on a $18,486 median debt. Vassar College admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.