2026 Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Schools in Washington

[Geophysics & Seismology](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geophysics-and-seismology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geophysics & seismology schools.
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2026 Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geophysics & seismology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Schools
For return on investment in geophysics & seismology, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for geophysics & seismology graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $29,724. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Western Washington University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,158 to complete the geophysics & seismology program here. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $36,802. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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.