2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,042 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,733 and $23,415 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 184 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 25 colleges that offered a degree 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree geology students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Illinois State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northern Illinois University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana State University is a fairly large school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Indiana State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana State
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
OHIO Athens also took the #18 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #7, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Kent State
Ball State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Ball State
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
WMU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #11, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students list, UC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
IUPUI also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Bloomington, Indiana 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students list, UWM has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.
With a ranking of #15, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Miami University - Oxford ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Miami University - Oxford
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Wright State University - Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Wright State University - Main Campus
Michigan State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Michigan State
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Wayne State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Wayne State University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
U-M also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Case Western also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958.
Full Case Western Reserve University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Northwestern University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Chicago ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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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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