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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts

10 Ranked Colleges
117 Degrees Awarded
$23,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

Across Massachusetts, there were 166 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,300 and $25,433 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 117 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 10 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students.

Top 10 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in Massachusetts

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #1 spot on the list. UMass Amherst is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Amherst, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $22,501 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMass Amherst

#2

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bridgewater State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Bridgewater State is a fairly large school located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts that handed out 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $18,457 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend Bridgewater State.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Bridgewater State University

#3

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salem State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Salem State is located in Salem, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Salem State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $18,399 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Salem State University.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Salem State

#4

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Framingham State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Framingham, Massachusetts, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students list, Framingham State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Framingham State is $20,001 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Framingham State University

#5

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Williams College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Williams is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Williams also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Williams is $19,480 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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 90%.

Full Williams College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology is $16,636 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#7

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #7. Northeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students list, Northeastern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern is $31,093 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northeastern

#8

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Northampton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students list, Smith has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $28,305 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students per year to attend Smith College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Smith Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Boston College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Boston College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Boston College is $35,899 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Boston College

#10

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Wellesley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #10. Wellesley is a small school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts that handed out 5 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wellesley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $22,087 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students per year to attend Wellesley.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Wellesley

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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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