2026 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
Geology & Earth Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools to find the best for geology & earth sciences students.
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Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall geology & earth sciences education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Geology & Earth Sciences
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in geology & earth sciences. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 17 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Vanderbilt University
East Tennessee State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 33 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $45,444 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,301.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for East Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $30,101 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for The University Of Tennessee
Students looking for a strong geology & earth sciences program will find one at University Of Memphis, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. About 22 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $48,890 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,315.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Memphis
A rank of #5 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 31 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,329 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,256.
See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Middle Tennessee State University
More Geology & Earth Sciences Rankings
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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 · 10 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.
