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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Arizona

[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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 Arizona

2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Arizona

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

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

$12,619 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,000 Avg Student Debt

$54,384 Median Earnings (10yr)

Northern Arizona University earned the #1 spot for value among geological & earth sciences schools in Arizona. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $22,000. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $42,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.

2

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

$13,573 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$59,979 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Arizona came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $51,943. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.

View All Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.