Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Geological & Earth Sciences

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

19 Ranked Colleges
319 Degrees Awarded
$22,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in the Southwest 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 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,136 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,627 and $21,949 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 319 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 19 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.

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.

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 Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Full University of Arizona Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 15 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Permian Basin has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Permian Basin are $6,900, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

#3

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas Tech

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 57 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas A&M College Station has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743.

Full Texas A&M College Station Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#5

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 30 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UH

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. OSU is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#17 in overall quality

MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935.

Full MSU Texas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTSA are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UTSA

With a ranking of #9, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 12 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Arizona State University - Tempe

#13 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, NMSU Main Campus has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 16 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Oklahoma

The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UTEP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UTEP

#15

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northern Arizona University is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at NAU

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, SFASU has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFASU are $15,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SFASU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#17

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 15 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNM has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNM are $19,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UNM

#18

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas Christian University is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

TCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TCU are $32,268.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas Christian University

#19

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

Baylor University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Baylor has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Baylor are $36,936.

Full Baylor University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Physical Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You