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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California

19 Ranked Colleges
218 Degrees Awarded
$25,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California” 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 California, there were 1,138 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,160 and $19,278 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 218 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking looked at 19 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 Master’s in California”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in California

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Long Beach Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree geology students list, UCLA has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #3 spot on the list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 43 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UCSD

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Davis landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700.

Full UC Davis Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Fullerton

California State University - Fresno came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 16 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Fresno

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#12 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at San Francisco State University

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Chico

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree geology students list, UC Irvine has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UC Irvine

#13 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SDSU

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

CSUB also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at CSUB

#14

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Sacramento

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #16. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828.

Full California State University - East Bay Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#18 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#18

Stanford University

Stanford, California

With a ranking of #18, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree geology students list, Stanford has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford

#19

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#1 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in California list. California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Caltech 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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