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2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

36 Ranked Colleges
1,540 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

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 in the Southeast 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 Southeast region, there were 1,540 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,423 and $24,357 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 36 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The geology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

1
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,135 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid per year to attend UF.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Florida

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 29 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $12,469 for southeast region geology students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 50 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of South Florida - Main Campus

4
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida Atlantic University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. FAU is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

FAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend FAU is $10,735 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Florida Atlantic University

5
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Virginia University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region geology students with aid list, WVU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend West Virginia University is $13,355 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Full West Virginia University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

6
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida State University is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 33 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $9,946 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. 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 Florida State

7
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 32 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

NC State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,411 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full NC State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Mississippi State, Mississippi is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 181 students in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mississippi State is $16,122 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Mississippi State University

9
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Boone, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 17 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Appalachian State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $13,989 for southeast region geology students with aid per year to attend Appalachian State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Appalachian State

10

Florida International University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 26 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

FIU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $5,298 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at FIU

11

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large public school situated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It awarded 72 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Louisiana State University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Louisiana State University is $17,811 for southeast region geology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

12
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region geology students with aid list, UGA has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Georgia is $14,257 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Georgia

13

University of Louisiana at Lafayette ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and it awarded 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UL Lafayette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $13,094 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Full UL Lafayette Geological & Earth Sciences Report

14
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ECU is $16,550 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at East Carolina University

15
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Georgia State University is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region geology students with aid list, Georgia State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgia State University is $17,242 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

Full Georgia State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

16

With a ranking of #16, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 75 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Charlotte also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $17,634 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

17
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $21,301 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Virginia Tech

18
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 22 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $12,752 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

19
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it awarded 9 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WCU is $13,924 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

Full WCU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

20
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 34 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

ETSU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $12,894 for southeast region geology students with aid per year to attend East Tennessee State University.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at ETSU

21
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region geology students with aid list, William & Mary has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William & Mary is $19,593 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, 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 93%.

Full William & Mary Geological & Earth Sciences Report

22

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 48 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

UNCW also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend UNCW is $19,136 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UNCW

23
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Western Kentucky University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Kentucky University is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 25 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WKU is $12,522 for southeast region geology students with aid.

Full WKU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

24
UNO crest
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

University of New Orleans did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UNO is $12,140 for Southeast Region Geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of New Orleans

25

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

UT Knoxville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $18,579 for southeast region geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, 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 UT Knoxville Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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