2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Minnesota
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong geology & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 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 Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in geology & earth sciences in Minnesota. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,700 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $44,825 early in their careers. Set against $21,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $36,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Carleton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $40,371. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carleton College admits about 20% of applicants.
Macalester College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $22,147. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
More Geology & Earth Sciences Rankings
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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 · 4 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.
