2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
12
Ranked Colleges
526
Degrees Awarded
$12,300
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 7,821 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 95th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,705 and had an average of $23,383 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 526 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,791 and $24,175 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 12 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.
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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
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 in the Rocky Mountains 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools 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 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
UW also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $6,776 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW.
The undergrad 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UW
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BYU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BYU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $10,333 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Brigham Young University - Provo Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Colorado Boulder. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CU - Boulder is $13,901 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at CU - Boulder
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State is $12,736 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 39 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
U of U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $11,823 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U of U
Colorado School of Mines came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Colorado School of Mines is a medium-sized school located in Golden, Colorado that handed out 58 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,690 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Colorado School of Mines.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Colorado School of Mines
With a ranking of #7, University of Idaho did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U of I is a fairly large public school situated in Moscow, Idaho. It awarded 18 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
U of I also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,148 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Idaho.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U of I
University of Northern Colorado did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Greeley, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
University of Northern Colorado not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Colorado is $13,774 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Colorado
Boise State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Boise, Idaho, and it awarded 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Boise State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Boise State is $13,582 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Boise State Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Montana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. MSU Bozeman is located in Bozeman, Montana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
MSU Bozeman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Bozeman is $16,779 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Montana State University
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