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

10 Ranked Colleges
124 Degrees Awarded
$24,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” 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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 124 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 10 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. 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 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 Master’s in the Plains States Region

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

Top 10 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 15 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree geology students list, Missouri State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State

#2

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Kansas landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Kansas is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 12 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Kansas

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 16 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree geology students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. 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

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fort Hays State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

FHSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at FHSU are $11,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full FHSU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Iowa State University are $25,948.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State

#6

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 14 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Kansas State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#2 in overall quality

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 9 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Mizzou

#8 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Duluth are $28,606, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City 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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