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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region

13 Ranked Colleges
133 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in the Rocky Mountains Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking.

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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 630 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,529 and $23,431 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 133 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,560 and $37,817 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking analyzed 13 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

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Rocky Mountains Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region master’s degree geology students.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region

#1

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #1 spot on the list. UW is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wyoming Geological & Earth Sciences Report

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. University of Utah is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Utah Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#4

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montana State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. MSU Bozeman is a fairly large school located in Bozeman, Montana that handed out 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Bozeman, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Bozeman are $21,446, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Bozeman

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Utah State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Utah State University is a public institution located in Logan, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Utah State University are $22,598, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at USU

#6

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, The University of Montana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. The University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Montana are $23,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Colorado State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State University - Fort Collins are $28,055.

Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

University of Northern Colorado came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Northern Colorado, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Colorado are $21,708, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Northern Colorado Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho

Idaho State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #9. Idaho State University is a fairly large public school situated in Pocatello, Idaho. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

ISU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Idaho State University are $26,548.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at ISU

#10

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#10 in overall quality

Boise State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #10. Boise State is located in Boise, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Boise State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State are $26,566, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Boise State

Montana Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Butte, Montana, this small public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Montana Tech also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Montana Technological University are $19,429, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana Technological University

#12

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
#4 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region master’s degree geology students list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Boulder are $32,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Mines is a medium-sized public school situated in Golden, Colorado. It awarded 40 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mines are $39,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado School of Mines

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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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