2026 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Illinois
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for geology & earth sciences students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall geology & earth sciences education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Geology & Earth Sciences
Illinois State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best geology & earth sciences schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 14 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $49,660 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $38,867. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong geology & earth sciences program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 35 geology & earth sciences degrees 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.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Illinois At Chicago
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 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.
