2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k)
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,720 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 161 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geological and earth sciences programs, but they also cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Caltech also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649.
Out of the 161 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Northwestern University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Out of the 161 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 36 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
UChicago also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
UPenn also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Pennsylvania
With a ranking of #6, Princeton University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Princeton also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MIT, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dartmouth College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Dartmouth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Dartmouth College are $58,120, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College
Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Johns Hopkins is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Johns Hopkins also took the #20 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Johns Hopkins
With a ranking of #10, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Florida Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UW - Madison
Brown University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Brown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Brown University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Cornell University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill
With a ranking of #16, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832.
Full The City College of New York Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #18, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Columbia University in the City of New York
Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Rolla, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #22, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Geological & Earth Sciences Report
California State University - Fullerton ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Fullerton
With a ranking of #24, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
UW Seattle also took the #25 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UW Seattle
University of Wyoming landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW is also in the top of our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wyoming
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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.
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