2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 84th most popular major in the country with 8,918 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Plains States region, there were 509 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $25,562 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 32 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Plains States Region”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region.

Top 5 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

#2 in overall quality

$28,845 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

#2

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

#3 in overall quality

$25,007 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree geology students list, KU has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Kansas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, Missouri

#1 in overall quality

$30,943 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in Rolla, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa

#5 in overall quality

$25,948 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State University

#4

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri

#4 in overall quality

$27,193 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Columbia

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences

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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