2027 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Geology & Earth Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for geology & earth sciences students.
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Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall geology & earth sciences education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Geology & Earth Sciences
Michigan Technological University tops our 2027 ranking of the best geology & earth sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $45,974 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,875.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 25 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $43,068. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Augustana College Illinois one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 12 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,764.
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A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 61 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $39,692 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000.
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Ohio University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $38,637. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #7 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530.
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Oberlin College placed #8 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Oberlin College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Oberlin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Oberlin College earn around $25,146 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #9 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Miami University Oxford came in at #10 for geology & earth sciences this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 38 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $38,478 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,862 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 17 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $38,867 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $37,280 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Northern Illinois University earned the #13 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 17 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $52,308 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Northern Illinois University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #14 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 23 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $44,207 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Michigan State University landed the #15 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Michigan State University earn around $39,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,869 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University earned the #16 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 19 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $42,932 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #18 position for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 20 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $39,678 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Kent State University At Kent placed #19 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 14 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $40,005 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Kent State University At Kent
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.