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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region

57 Ranked Colleges
776 Degrees Awarded
$32,600 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 6,024 people earned their degree in geology and earth sciences, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 1,121 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 776 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,720 and $23,024 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 57 colleges that offered a degree in geology and earth sciences. That schools that top this list have a program in geology and earth sciences in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Far Western US Region

1
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Occidental College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Oxy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Occidental College

2
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Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

Out of the 57 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific Lutheran University landed the #2 spot on the list. Tacoma, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at PLU

3
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Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Out of the 57 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 112 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Washington State University

4
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Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

Out of the 57 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Whitman

5
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Washington University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region. Western Washington University is a fairly large school located in Bellingham, Washington that handed out 45 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at WWU

6

University of Hawaii at Hilo came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Hawaii at Hilo is a small public school situated in Hilo, Hawaii. It awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UH Hilo Geology & Earth Sciences Report

7
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized school located in Arcata, California that handed out 17 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Humboldt State University

8
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Pitzer College
Claremont, California

Pitzer College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Pitzer College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

9
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Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Pacific University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Alaska Pacific Geology & Earth Sciences Report

10

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz

11
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 33 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Stanford University

12

University of California - Merced landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UC Merced

13

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Alaska Fairbanks is a medium-sized school located in Fairbanks, Alaska that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Alaska Fairbanks

14

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara

15
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University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington

University of Puget Sound ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of Puget Sound is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tacoma, Washington. It awarded 3 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Puget Sound

16

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Stan State Geology & Earth Sciences Report

17
Western Oregon State College crest
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, Oregon

With a ranking of #17, Western Oregon University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in Monmouth, Oregon, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Western Oregon State College

18

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 48 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of California - Irvine Geology & Earth Sciences Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. UNLV is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 24 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

20
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Sonoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Rohnert Park, California that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Sonoma State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

21

University of Alaska Anchorage came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. UAA is a fairly large public school situated in Anchorage, Alaska. It awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Alaska Anchorage

22

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Geology & Earth Sciences Report

23

University of California - Riverside landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 23 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of California - Riverside

24
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Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Scripps College

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Bakersfield

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