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2027 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Hydrology & Water Resources Science](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/hydrology-and-water-resources-science/) 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 2027 ranking of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2027 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the hydrology & water resources science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools

1

Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbus, OH

$13,244 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$60,409 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in hydrology & water resources science, no school beat Ohio State University Main Campus this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $26,000. Early-career hydrology & water resources science graduates make about $41,156. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.

2

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

$14,410 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,896 Avg Student Debt

$62,117 Median Earnings (10yr)

Illinois State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $21,896. Early-career hydrology & water resources science graduates make about $49,660. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.

View All Hydrology & Water Resources Science Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.