2027 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Illinois
Geology & Earth Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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
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.
Top Schools in Geology & Earth Sciences
Leading the list is Augustana College Illinois, our #1 school for geology & earth sciences. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois 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.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Augustana College Illinois
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 17 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $38,867 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for 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. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 34 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $37,280. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Northern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geology & earth sciences, ranking #4. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Northern Illinois University
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geology & earth sciences, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 17 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Illinois State University
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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 · 5 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.