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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania

20 Ranked Colleges
415 Degrees Awarded
$17,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Pennsylvania, there were 446 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,133 and $25,863 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 415 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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

The geology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania

#1

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UPenn is $4,833 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Pennsylvania

#2

University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown is a small public school situated in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Pitt Johnstown has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,998 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown

#3

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

SRU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $15,470 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SRU

#4

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

Bradford, Pennsylvania

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Bradford landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, this small public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Pitt Bradford also took the #15 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pittsburgh - Bradford is $15,476 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Pitt Bradford

#5

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot on the list. Edinboro, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Edinboro also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is $13,986 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Edinboro

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $21,011 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Pitt

#7

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

WCUPA also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WCUPA is $17,966 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at West Chester University of Pennsylvania

#8

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 53 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Bloomsburg also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is $16,232 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

#9

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #9, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is located in Clarion, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Clarion University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Clarion University is $17,224 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Clarion University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10

Lock Haven University

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Lock Haven University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

LHU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend LHU is $17,281 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at LHU

#11

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #11, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. California University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in California, Pennsylvania. It awarded 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal U is $14,428 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Cal U Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#12

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
#11 in overall quality

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

East Stroudsburg University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Stroudsburg University is $17,581 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full East Stroudsburg University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13

Allegheny College

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Allegheny College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Allegheny is a private not-for-profit institution located in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Allegheny also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $16,523 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Allegheny.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Allegheny

#14

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Kutztown University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $19,098 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#15

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Temple not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,879 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Temple University.

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

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Temple University

With a ranking of #16, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is $14,918 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

With a ranking of #17, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

IUP also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend IUP is $19,197 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus

#18

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Millersville also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Millersville is $19,065 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Millersville Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#19

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
#19 in overall quality

Wilkes University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wilkes is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Wilkes also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Wilkes is $20,640 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Wilkes University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#20

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

Drexel University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Drexel did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drexel is $27,057 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drexel University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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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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