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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology

13 Ranked Colleges
70 Degrees Awarded
$34,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 251 people earned their degree in geophysics and seismology, making the major the 674th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 70 geophysics and seismology graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geophysics and seismology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology

#1

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s list. University of Wyoming is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 1 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UW

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M College Station

#3

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

UH also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UH

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’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 Norman Campus are $23,236.

Full University of Oklahoma Geophysics & Seismology Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nevada - Reno. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s list. UNR is a large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 1 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Reno are $21,971, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UNR

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 2 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTEP, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UTEP

#7

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Geophysics & Seismology Report

#8

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#12 in overall quality

Boise State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Boise State is a large school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 1 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

Boise State also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State are $26,566.

Full Boise State Geophysics & Seismology Report

#9

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#5 in overall quality

Colorado School of Mines came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s ranking. Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mines are $39,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Colorado School of Mines Geophysics & Seismology Report

#10

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’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.

Full Stanford University Geophysics & Seismology Report

#11

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s ranking. MIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#12

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s ranking. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 3 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Caltech Geophysics & Seismology Report

#13

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

UChicago also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Chicago

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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