2026 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Virginia
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for geology & earth sciences students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in Virginia
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
College Of William And Mary tops our 2026 ranking of the best geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 17 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from College Of William And Mary
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 38 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong geology & earth sciences program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $48,118 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete this degree.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for James Madison University
George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geology & earth sciences, ranking #4. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 17 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $63,131. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Get the full geology & earth sciences details for George Mason 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. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 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.
