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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

26 Ranked Colleges
184 Degrees Awarded
$31,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes 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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 184 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University 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
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 University of Chicago are $61,548.

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

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UW - Madison

#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 #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 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 also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at U-M

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Purdue also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UIUC

#5 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

IUPUI also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ball State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Ball State University are $26,204.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Ball State University

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUC Geological & Earth Sciences Report

With a ranking of #12, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago

#13

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#14

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Indiana State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana State University is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana State

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Michigan State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Michigan State are $37,056.

Full Michigan State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#16

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northern Illinois University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#17

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Wayne State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#12 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.

Full Miami University - Oxford Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#19

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UWM

#13 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Case Western

#21

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WMU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#17 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kent State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Kent State

#16 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 UC are $26,644.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Wright State University - Main Campus

#18 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus 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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