2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Bachelor’s” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 8,918 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 84th most popular in the United States. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,087 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 266 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.
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.
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More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
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 for a Bachelor’s”.
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.
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend BYU - I is $7,167 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 266 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #2 spot on the list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large school located in Provo, Utah that handed out 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend BYU is $13,322 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UT Permian Basin is $10,092 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UT Permian Basin
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s. SD Mines is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for SD Mines is $19,815 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,748 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #6, University of Wyoming did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this fairly large public school awarded 43 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, UW is in the top on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,159 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend University of Wyoming.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wyoming
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. SRU is a medium-sized public school situated in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It awarded 21 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $19,926 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,465 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 2 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UW - Green Bay
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $16,020 for bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Geological & Earth Sciences Report
MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $10,045 for bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend MSU Texas.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Texas
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $19,433 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Western Michigan University.
University of Houston ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UH also did well on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $12,838 for bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend UH.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Houston
University of Southern Mississippi did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #14. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,923 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend University of Southern Mississippi.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Kutztown University is $22,422 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Kutztown University
Salisbury University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Salisbury is located in Salisbury, Maryland and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Salisbury is also in the top of our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $19,617 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Salisbury.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Salisbury University
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #17. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 28 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,646 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.
CSULB also claimed a top spot on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $9,622 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Edinboro is $16,833 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $15,463 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
Tarleton State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Tarleton State University is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Tarleton is $18,979 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.
Western Carolina University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Western Carolina University is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for WCU is $13,722 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Western Carolina University
With a ranking of #23, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,620 for Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Iowa
Texas Tech University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 35 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Texas Tech is also in the top of our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech University is $17,571 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full Texas Tech University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for bachelor’s degree geology students.
The low 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth
Rest of the Best 40 in Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s
Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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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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