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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology

25 Ranked Colleges
79 Degrees Awarded
$32,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geophysics Major 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 “Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s” 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 79 geophysics and seismology graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s” ranking analyzed 25 colleges that offered a degree in geophysics and seismology. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in geophysics and seismology.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geophysics & Seismology Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s”.

1
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 15 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full UH Geophysics & Seismology Report

2
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado School of Mines. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s. Mines is a medium-sized school located in Golden, Colorado that handed out 14 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Mines Geophysics & Seismology Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 7 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Caltech Geophysics & Seismology Report

4

Out of the 25 schools in the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at UCLA

4
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Tulsa. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. University of Tulsa is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 5 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of Tulsa

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - Kingsville. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a public institution located in Kingsville, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 5 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

8

With a ranking of #8, Boise State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Boise State

8

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Michigan Technological University

10

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.

Full UTEP Geophysics & Seismology Report

11
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 2 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full University of Utah Geophysics & Seismology Report

11
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. SLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees 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 2.3% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Saint Louis University

11
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of Chicago

14
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #14, Boston College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.

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 0.9% 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 Boston College Geophysics & Seismology Report

14

University of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, Alaska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of Alaska Fairbanks

14

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Socorro, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified masters’s geophysics students 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.

Full New Mexico Tech Geophysics & Seismology Report

14

University of Nevada - Reno came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. UNR is a public institution located in Reno, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Nevada - Reno

14
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. University of Wyoming is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 1 masters’s geophysics degrees 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 UW Geophysics & Seismology Report

14
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Stanford Geophysics & Seismology Report

20

Southern Methodist University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 5 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national 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.

Full SMU Geophysics & Seismology Report

20

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UCSB

20

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s geophysics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW Seattle Geophysics & Seismology Report

20

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 10 masters’s geophysics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at Texas A&M University - College Station

20

Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s geophysics degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full MIT Geophysics & Seismology Report

20

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geophysics Major for a Master’s ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geophysics degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at University of Akron Main Campus

Notes and References

References

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