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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region

11 Ranked Colleges
143 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 the Southwest region, there were 1,136 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,627 and $21,949 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 143 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,970 and $95,025 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree 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

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 Doctorate in the Southwest Region”.

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 Doctorate in the Southwest Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region doctor’s degree geology students.

Top 13 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southwest Region

#1

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #1 spot on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Houston Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 17 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M College Station

#4

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas Tech

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#11 in overall quality

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

UTEP also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180.

Full UTEP Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region list. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 5 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s geology students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at NMSU Main Campus

#7 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 14 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at ASU - Tempe

#9

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geology students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Arizona

#10 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas

#11

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Baylor University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region list. Baylor is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 4 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region doctor’s degree geology students list, Baylor has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baylor University are $36,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Baylor

#12

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#13 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #12. UNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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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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