Geology & Earth Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 164 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best geology & earth sciences schools.
The school you choose for geology & earth sciences can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Geology & Earth Sciences School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geology & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for geology & earth sciences. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 63 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Stanford University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 15 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $99,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for University Of California Berkeley
Brown University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 26 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Brown University
Students looking for a strong geology & earth sciences program will find one at Boston University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 20 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $63,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Boston University
Dartmouth College came in at #6 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $81,992 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Dartmouth College
Yale University earned the #7 position for geology & earth sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 29 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Stony Brook University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Stony Brook University earn around $60,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Stony Brook University
University Of California Irvine came in at #9 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $38,804. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of California Irvine
San Jose State University placed #10 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 13 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from San Jose State University
Bowdoin College earned the #11 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. Bowdoin College awarded about 24 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Bowdoin College earn around $58,938 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Bowdoin College
Lafayette College came in at #12 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 13 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,931.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Lafayette College
Michigan Technological University came in at #13 for geology & earth sciences this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan Technological University awarded about 12 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Michigan Technological University
University Of California Davis came in at #14 for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $43,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,416.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #15 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. About 17 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Arizona State University landed the #16 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 24 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $55,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,842.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Arizona State University
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #17 position for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 13 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $63,833 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #18 position for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 19 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #19 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $44,825 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,700 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $57,562 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,837.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Texas A And M University College Station
Bates College came in at #21 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $43,933. Bates College graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Bates College
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #22 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 17 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $47,045 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,830.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Hamilton College landed the #23 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. About 91% of students finish within six years. Hamilton College awarded about 12 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Hamilton College earn around $48,806 in the first couple years of their career. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Hamilton College
Whitman College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Walla Walla. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Whitman College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $32,345 in their early career. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Whitman College
University Of Georgia came in at #25 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s geology & earth sciences ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 164 schools evaluated.
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).
