College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences in California

102 Ranked Colleges
706 Degrees Awarded
$32,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geology Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Geology Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 California, there were 706 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Geology Major in California” ranking, we looked at 102 colleges that offer a degree in geology and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular geology and earth sciences programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Geology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Geology Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended Geology Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california geology students.

1

Out of the 102 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 70 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full University of California - Irvine Geology & Earth Sciences Report

2
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Out of the 102 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #2 spot on the list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Stanford

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 49 ’s geology 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 full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UC Santa Cruz

4

Out of the 102 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UCSB

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 31 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Davis Geology & Earth Sciences Report

6

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in California list. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 28 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

7

University of California - San Diego landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UCSD

7
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at San Diego State University

7

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

10

University of California - Berkeley came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

11

California State University - Sacramento came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Sacramento Geology & Earth Sciences Report

12

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 California State University - Los Angeles Geology & Earth Sciences Report

13
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized school located in Arcata, California that handed out 17 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Humboldt State University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

14

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at CSUB

14

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Northridge Geology & Earth Sciences Report

14

California State University - Long Beach came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full CSULB Geology & Earth Sciences Report

17

California State University - Fresno landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 14 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

17

California State University - Fullerton ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Cal State Fullerton

17

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 14 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Geology & Earth Sciences Report

20

University of California - Merced landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. University of California - Merced is located in Merced, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

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

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California list. California State University - Stanislaus is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at California State University - Stanislaus

21

California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 12 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Caltech Geology & Earth Sciences Report

23
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at USC

24
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Occidental College

24

California State University - Chico landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in California ranking. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 9 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 California State University - Chico

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options