2023 Best Value Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology (Income $30-$48k)
22
Ranked Colleges
243
Degrees Awarded
$10,800
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 243 people earned their degree in geophysics and seismology, making the major the 757th most popular in the United States.
For this year’s “Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in geophysics and seismology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geophysics and seismology programs and 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.
More Ways to Rank Geophysics & Seismology Schools
The geophysics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,581 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Stanford
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,777 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Chicago.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 9 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Caltech has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,190 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California Institute of Technology.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Caltech Geophysics & Seismology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $6,399 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UW Seattle
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $9,999 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UC Berkeley
University of Wyoming landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
UW also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW is $6,776 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UW
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. It costs about $9,891 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of California - Los Angeles
Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - College Station is $12,949 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M University - College Station
University of Houston came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 42 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $10,664 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Houston Geophysics & Seismology Report
University of California - Riverside ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $8,193 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Riverside Geophysics & Seismology Report
With a ranking of #11, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Austin has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,977 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Nevada - Reno landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNR, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nevada - Reno is $12,399 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UNR Geophysics & Seismology Report
Western Washington University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
WWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Washington University is $11,357 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at WWU
With a ranking of #14, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CU - Boulder is $13,901 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTEP, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $8,495 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full The University of Texas at El Paso Geophysics & Seismology Report
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $9,274 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at SDSU
University of Utah landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. U of U is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U of U also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $11,823 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at U of U
Colorado School of Mines came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mines also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,690 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Colorado School of Mines.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Mines Geophysics & Seismology Report
Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Kingsville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Texas A&M Kingsville also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,200 for geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M Kingsville.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M Kingsville
With a ranking of #20, Boise State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boise State University is located in Boise, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
Boise State also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Boise State University is $13,582 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Boise State University
University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UofSC is a large school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 3 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
UofSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” list. It costs about $16,404 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UofSC.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of South Carolina - Columbia
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Geophysics Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is $16,846 for Geophysics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Oklahoma
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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
- *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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