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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

10 Ranked Colleges
64 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 630 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,529 and $23,431 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 64 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,140 and $97,138 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 10 colleges that offered 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

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 Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 10 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

#1

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region doctor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#2

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U of U is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at U of U

#3

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado School of Mines. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, Colorado and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mines are $39,800, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Mines

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Colorado Boulder landed the #4 spot on the list. CU - Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region doctor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Boulder are $32,980.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Colorado Boulder

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Colorado State is a large school located in Fort Collins, Colorado that handed out 6 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Colorado State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State are $28,055, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado State

#6

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho
#8 in overall quality

University of Idaho did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Idaho is a public institution located in Moscow, Idaho. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of I, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Idaho are $29,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Idaho

#10 in overall quality

Utah State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

USU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at USU are $22,598, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Utah State University

#8

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#9 in overall quality

The University of Montana came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UM is located in Missoula, Montana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UM also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Montana are $23,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Montana Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#7 in overall quality

Boise State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Boise State University is a large school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 8 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Boise State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State are $26,566, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boise State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
#6 in overall quality

Montana State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. MSU Bozeman is a fairly large public school situated in Bozeman, Montana. It awarded 5 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Bozeman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Montana State University are $21,446, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana State University

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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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