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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

16 Ranked Colleges
330 Degrees Awarded
$10,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 84th most popular major in the country with 8,918 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $35,533 and had an average of $23,531 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 509 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $25,562 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 330 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geological and earth sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in Rolla, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $10,755 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Geological & Earth Sciences Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Duluth

#5

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Iowa

With a ranking of #6, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Columbia

#8

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Kansas State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $14,232 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at K -State

#13 in overall quality

Fort Hays State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

FHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,464 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Fort Hays State University

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwest has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $9,990 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northwest Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 21 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,387 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend KU.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Kansas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $12,527 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield

With a ranking of #13, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend SD Mines is $15,464 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SD Mines Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#14

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WSU is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $11,642 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WSU.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at WSU

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gustavus Adolphus College is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus is $12,150 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus

#16

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $12,065 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City

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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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