2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee

[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for geological & earth sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geological & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Leading the list is The University Of Tennessee Martin, our #1 best value for geological & earth sciences in Tennessee. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $23,770. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $31,256. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,329 early in their careers. Set against $31,256 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Tennessee Technological University one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,580 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Tennessee State University earned it the #4 place for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,301 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. Set against $21,301 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $30,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.