---

2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Kentucky

[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geological & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for geological & earth sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Kentucky

2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Kentucky

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geological & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

1

Murray State University
Murray, KY

$9,900 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,420 Avg Student Debt

$44,737 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in geological & earth sciences, no school beat Murray State University this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $48,423 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.

2

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

$11,652 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,499 Avg Student Debt

$43,889 Median Earnings (10yr)

Western Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.

View All Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.