2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region (With Aid)
12
Ranked Colleges
526
Degrees Awarded
$16,700
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geological and earth sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geological and earth sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wyoming. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid. Laramie, Wyoming is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.
UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW is $11,085 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wyoming
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Utah landed the #2 spot on the list. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 39 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Utah is $13,572 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full U of U Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students with aid list, BYU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,474 for rocky mountains region geology students with aid per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Provo
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #4 spot on the list. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students with aid list, Colorado State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State is $18,679 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 Colorado State Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Boise State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid list. Boise State is a large school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boise State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boise State is $16,153 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Boise State Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Idaho landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Moscow, Idaho, and it awarded 18 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students with aid list, U of I has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,964 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid per year to attend U of I.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U of I
Montana State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Bozeman, Montana, this fairly large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
MSU Bozeman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Bozeman is $19,453 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid.
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%.
Full Montana State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. 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 with aid list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $20,967 for rocky mountains region geology students with aid per year to attend University of Colorado Boulder.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at CU - Boulder
With a ranking of #9, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Greeley, Colorado, this fairly large public school handed out 23 diplomas 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 estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Colorado is $15,570 for rocky mountains region geology students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Colorado
Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Golden, Colorado, and it awarded 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 $27,114 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students with aid per year to attend Mines.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado School of Mines
college factual
