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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
68 Degrees Awarded
$36,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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 “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,918 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 84th most popular in the United States. 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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,042 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,733 and $23,415 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 68 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geological and earth sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UChicago

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

U-M also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Full U-M Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 4 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UIUC

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Purdue

#5 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 7 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Ohio State

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIC Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Western Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 2 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Western Michigan University

#10 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Miami University - Oxford

#13

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 5 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Full UC Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Case Western also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Case Western

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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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