2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Virginia
[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 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geology & earth sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Virginia
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
Our analysis ranked George Mason University the best value for a degree in geology & earth sciences in Virginia. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $23,529. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at James Madison University earned it the #2 place for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $48,118. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
College Of William And Mary came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
