2026 Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools
[Geophysics & Seismology](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geophysics-and-seismology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geophysics & seismology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools to find the best return on investment for geophysics & seismology students.
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2026 Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geophysics & seismology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geophysics & Seismology Schools
Stanford University tops our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools in the United States. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for geophysics & seismology graduates is $10,492. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for geophysics & seismology. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the geophysics & seismology program here. Early-career geophysics & seismology graduates make about $79,645. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the geophysics & seismology program here. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public school located in the city of Fairbanks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. Set against $23,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for geophysics & seismology. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. 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 $65,681. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming placed #6 among the best values for geophysics & seismology. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Typical student debt for geophysics & seismology graduates is $23,700. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $45,758 early in their careers. Set against $23,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $89,896 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Nevada Reno earned the #8 position for value in geophysics & seismology this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $39,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #9 for value in geophysics & seismology this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $29,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $86,497. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
California Institute Of Technology ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 3%.
Western Washington University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. 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. Set against $26,158 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #12 position for value in geophysics & seismology this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $16,487 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $42,062. Set against $16,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Boise State University landed the #13 spot for geophysics & seismology value this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $27,299 in student loans. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $31,701 early in their careers. Set against $27,299 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #14 spot for geophysics & seismology value this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career geophysics & seismology graduates make about $42,218. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value geophysics & seismology schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $20,837 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $70,539. Set against $20,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #16 for value in geophysics & seismology this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geophysics & seismology graduates is $17,553. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University earned the #17 position for value in geophysics & seismology this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for geophysics & seismology graduates is $13,025. Geophysics & Seismology graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Colorado School Of Mines placed #18 among the best values for geophysics & seismology. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Geophysics & Seismology graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geophysics & seismology degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $79,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Other Geophysics & Seismology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Geophysics & Seismology rankings across degree levels:
View All Geophysics & Seismology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
