2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
30
Ranked Colleges
818
Degrees Awarded
$19,900
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking.
Geological & Earth Sciences is the 95th most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Great Lakes region, there were 818 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,990 and $23,096 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 30 colleges that offered 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $15,686 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwestern
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,895 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Chicago.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UChicago
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $17,207 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full U-M Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Beloit College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Beloit is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Beloit also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Beloit College is $12,822 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Beloit Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #5 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $22,377 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison
With a ranking of #6, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $17,124 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Purdue University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $22,400 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UIUC
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $20,234 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full IU Bloomington Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $16,739 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,575 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Ohio State.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Ohio State University - Main Campus
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 8 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $18,816 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
With a ranking of #12, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,839 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 University of Illinois at Chicago Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 9 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k list, Ball State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $19,563 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #14, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
Wright State University - Main Campus also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $19,004 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #15. Western Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 38 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $23,726 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Western Michigan University
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 9 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $20,603 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $17,844 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Michigan State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $25,297 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Michigan State
Grand Valley State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 12 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,603 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Grand Valley State University
Wayne State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $17,814 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Wayne State University.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Wayne State University
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,563 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Eastern Michigan
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #22. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UC is $24,534 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
University of Akron Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,778 for Great Lakes Region Geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus
Miami University - Oxford ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $26,704 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Miami University - Oxford Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Indiana State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Indiana State is a medium-sized public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 10 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $19,566 for great lakes region geology students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Indiana State University.
Full Indiana State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
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