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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

16 Ranked Colleges
330 Degrees Awarded
$25,562 Avg Student Debt
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree 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.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

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 $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) 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 $48-$75k. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 $13,058 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s 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. It costs about $7,558 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Morris.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,556 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Mizzou has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $13,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Mizzou

#5

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $15,729 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Iowa

With a ranking of #6, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $12,438 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Duluth

Iowa State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,161 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Iowa State University

#8

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Kansas State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,889 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend K -State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Northwest also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,988 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University

#13 in overall quality

Fort Hays State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

FHSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $12,549 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#11

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $17,132 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Kansas.

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

Full University of Kansas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SD Mines is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 11 bachelors’s geology degrees 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 yearly cost to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $20,299 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at SD Mines

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 12 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 $48-$75k list, Missouri State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,204 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield

#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 $48-$75k ranking. Wichita State University is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,386 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WSU.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Wichita State University

#15

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $14,571 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMKC

#16

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $14,548 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College 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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