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2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in South Carolina

[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in South Carolina

2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in South Carolina

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

1

College Of Charleston
Charleston, SC

$12,978 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,500 Avg Student Debt

$56,416 Median Earnings (10yr)

College Of Charleston earned the #1 spot for value among geology & earth sciences schools in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $26,500. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $49,786 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of South Carolina Columbia
Columbia, SC

$12,688 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,500 Avg Student Debt

$62,177 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $38,432. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

View All Geology & Earth Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.