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

16 Ranked Colleges
330 Degrees Awarded
$11,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region 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 the Plains States Region 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 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.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Rolla, Missouri, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $10,660 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small public school situated in Morris, Minnesota. It awarded 1 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris also took the #11 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 - Morris is $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 6 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

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 low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Mizzou

Iowa State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $10,843 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#7

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $12,495 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UNI

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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,863 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwest

#9

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Kansas State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

K -State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,089 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Kansas State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at K -State

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

FHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $9,882 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Fort Hays State University

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SD Mines is $16,644 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 SD Mines

#12

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. 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 $15,380 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Kansas.

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

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at KU

With a ranking of #13, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $13,488 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Missouri State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#14

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, WSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,543 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Wichita State University

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $11,669 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus College

#16

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,553 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UMKC 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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