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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology (Income $0-$30k)

15 Ranked Colleges
84 Degrees Awarded
$34,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Geophysics & Seismology is the 674th most popular major in the country with 251 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 84 geophysics and seismology graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geophysics and seismology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geophysics and seismology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geophysics and seismology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology (Income $0-$30k)

#1

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 1 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at California Institute of Technology

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Stanford University

#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 6 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UChicago

#4

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s geophysics degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

MIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at MIT are $56,719, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at MIT

#5

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 4 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615.

Full University of Wyoming Geophysics & Seismology Report

#6

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UCLA

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 5 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree geophysics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M College Station has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M College Station

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#10 in overall quality

University of Houston ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geophysics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree geophysics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UH has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689.

Full University of Houston Geophysics & Seismology Report

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geophysics students in 2019-2020.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at SDSU

#10

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#9 in overall quality

University of Utah came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geophysics students in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at U of U

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 4 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree geophysics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UCSD

#12

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
#11 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CU - Boulder are $32,980.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at CU - Boulder

#13

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#5 in overall quality

Colorado School of Mines ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Golden, Colorado, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree geophysics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mines has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado School of Mines are $39,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Colorado School of Mines Geophysics & Seismology Report

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geophysics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Geophysics & Seismology Report

#15

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#13 in overall quality

Boise State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree geophysics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Boise State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State are $26,566, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Boise State

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.

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