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2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

11 Ranked Colleges
430 Degrees Awarded
$23,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $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 Plains States region, there were 430 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,405 and $25,612 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 Iowa State

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 40 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k list, Iowa has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,401 for plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri State University - Springfield. The school came in at #4 for the Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k list, UMKC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $15,702 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,559 for plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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 Mizzou Geological & Earth Sciences Report

7

University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

UMN Morris also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $10,529 for plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $18,505 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Geological & Earth Sciences Report

9
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k list, KU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $20,257 for plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Kansas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

10
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,634 for plains states region geology students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Winona State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Winona State University

11
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, Carleton College did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

Carleton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $28,928 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make more than $110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Carleton Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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