2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Leading the list is University Of Wyoming, our #1 best value for geology & earth sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $23,700. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $45,758. Set against $23,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah State University earned it the #2 place for geology & earth sciences. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $12,184. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #4 place for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $20,798. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $49,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana earned it the #5 place for geology & earth sciences. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $46,954. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #7 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,028 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $41,158. Set against $26,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,299 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $31,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $29,030. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #10 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $46,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #11 for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $79,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Colorado College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. The acceptance rate is 18%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
