2027 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Master’s Degree Schools

[Hydrology & Water Resources Science](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/hydrology-and-water-resources-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong hydrology & water resources science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools.
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2027 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the United States
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
California State University Fresno tops our 2027 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $15,598. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $83,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #2 place for hydrology & water resources science. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $16,416 to complete the hydrology & water resources science program here. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $43,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Provo earned it the #3 place for hydrology & water resources science. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. Set against $12,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nevada Reno one of the best values for hydrology & water resources science. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $39,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $21,700. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $44,825. That is a strong return on a $21,700 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University earned the #6 position for value in hydrology & water resources science this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $53,298. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University earned the #7 position for value in hydrology & water resources science this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $15,000. Early-career hydrology & water resources science graduates make about $39,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $16,487. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $42,062. That is a strong return on a $16,487 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates carry a median of $26,028 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $41,158. Set against $26,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #10 position for value in hydrology & water resources science this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,837 to complete the hydrology & water resources science program here. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $70,539 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,837 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island landed the #11 spot for hydrology & water resources science value this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the hydrology & water resources science program here. Early-career hydrology & water resources science graduates make about $52,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines earned the #12 position for value in hydrology & water resources science this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hydrology & water resources science degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $79,523. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Other Hydrology & Water Resources Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value hydrology & water resources science schools at other degree levels:
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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.