2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology
45
Ranked Colleges
243
Degrees Awarded
$33,100
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major” ranking, we looked at 45 colleges that offer a degree in geophysics and seismology. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their geophysics and seismology program is one of the largest majors offered 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 “Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major
The colleges and universities below are the best for geophysics students.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology
Out of the 45 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at California Institute of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado School of Mines. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. 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.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, 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 92%.
Full Mines Geophysics & Seismology Report
Out of the 45 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Tulsa landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Tulsa is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 5 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full University of Tulsa Geophysics & Seismology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Alaska Fairbanks. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major. UAF is a medium-sized public school situated in Fairbanks, Alaska. It awarded 5 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UAF
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school handed out 42 diplomas to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UH
Michigan Technological University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 86%.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Michigan Tech
With a ranking of #7, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. This small school is located in Socorro, New Mexico, and it awarded 1 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at New Mexico Tech
Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. Located in Kingsville, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
Full Texas A&M Kingsville Geophysics & Seismology Report
Stanford University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking, coming in at #9. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 13 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
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. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Stanford
University of Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. 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.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full University of Chicago Geophysics & Seismology Report
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 16 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 University of Oklahoma
Brown University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. This fairly large school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 4 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Brown
Southern Methodist University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. 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 more about Geophysics & Seismology at Southern Methodist University
University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 17 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UW Seattle
University of Nevada - Reno ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. This large school is located in Reno, Nevada, and it awarded 5 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
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 more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Nevada - Reno
University of Wyoming came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. Laramie, Wyoming is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geophysics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wyoming Geophysics & Seismology Report
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 13 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full UCLA Geophysics & Seismology Report
With a ranking of #18, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 13 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 UC Berkeley
Saint Louis University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. Saint Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Saint Louis University Geophysics & Seismology Report
SUNY Geneseo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking, coming in at #20. SUNY Geneseo is a public institution located in Geneseo, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 SUNY Geneseo
Boise State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking, coming in at #21. Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 Utah landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of Utah
The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking, coming in at #23. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UTEP
University of Colorado Boulder came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking. CU - Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Colorado Boulder Geophysics & Seismology Report
Western Washington University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geophysics Major ranking, coming in at #25. Western Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 2 ’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at WWU
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