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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

161 Ranked Colleges
1,720 Degrees Awarded
$40,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 84th most popular major in the country with 8,918 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,720 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 161 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college 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 Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

MIT also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwestern

#3

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 161 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #3 spot on the list. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Princeton also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Full Princeton Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Columbia is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Columbia University in the City of New York

#5

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford University

#6

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

University of Chicago landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Chicago

#7

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Caltech has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California Institute of Technology

#8

Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire
#5 in overall quality

Dartmouth College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Dartmouth College is a medium-sized school located in Hanover, New Hampshire that handed out 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Dartmouth also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Dartmouth are $58,120, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Dartmouth College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#20 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #20 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Johns Hopkins University

#10

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Cornell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Cornell

#8 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Madison, Wisconsin 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#12

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
Top 25% in overall quality

Vanderbilt University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Vanderbilt

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

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

#14

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Florida landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130.

Full University of Florida Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#15

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UW is in the top on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#16

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#17

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #17, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, UPenn has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

Full University of Pennsylvania Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#18

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Purdue

#19

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
#16 in overall quality

Brown University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Brown also took the #16 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown University are $60,363, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Brown University

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 18 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW Seattle Geological & Earth Sciences Report

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Los Angeles

#22

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#21 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill

#23

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. The City College of New York is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The City College of New York Geological & Earth Sciences Report

With a ranking of #24, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized school located in Odessa, Texas that handed out 15 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Permian Basin are $6,900.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UT Permian Basin

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State Fullerton Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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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