2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Texas
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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 Texas
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
For return on investment in geology & earth sciences, no school beat El Paso Community College this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $48,335 early in their careers. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Houston Downtown one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $50,894. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Downtown admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $18,969. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $42,779. Set against $18,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned it the #5 place for geology & earth sciences. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $20,052 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $60,503. Set against $20,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #6 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $27,931. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $42,788 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,931 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston earned the #7 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $89,896. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earned the #8 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $20,794. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $25,508. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $47,130. Set against $25,508 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #9 for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $25,500. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $65,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University placed #10 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas Tech University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $25,750. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $49,727. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #12 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,487 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $42,062 early in their careers. Set against $16,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #13 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $20,837. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $57,562. Set against $20,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University earned the #14 position for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $49,888. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
