2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geological & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value geological & earth sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geological & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $37,280 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $17,875. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $45,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $25,800. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $23,250. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $38,867. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #6 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $39,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $16,000. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $39,692. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #8 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $42,932. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $25,000. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $43,068 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #11 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $44,207. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University came in at #12 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $38,675. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #13 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Set against $21,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $29,869. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $39,997. That is a strong return on a $29,869 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $19,500. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $38,637. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #16 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $40,005. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $26,764. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $39,096. That is a strong return on a $26,764 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $45,196. That is a strong return on a $25,449 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $23,530. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford placed #20 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $20,862 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $38,478. Set against $20,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Oberlin College placed #21 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,366. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,759 median debt. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
