2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region
11
Ranked Colleges
430
Degrees Awarded
$18,000
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Geological & Earth Sciences is the 95th most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,705 and had an average of $23,383 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 430 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,405 and $25,612 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geological and earth sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
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 in the Plains States 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 in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region geology students.
Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 59 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $16,718 for plains states region geology students per year to attend Missouri State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region geology students list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,002 for plains states region geology students per year to attend Iowa State.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State University
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 40 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Geology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region geology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region. UMN Morris is a small public school situated in Morris, Minnesota. It awarded 4 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $10,529 for plains states region geology students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Morris
Winona State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 12 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,634 for Plains States Region Geology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Winona State University
University of Kansas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $20,257 for Plains States Region Geology students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at KU
University of Iowa ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $19,401 for Plains States Region Geology students per year to attend Iowa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Iowa
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,559 for plains states region geology students per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Mizzou
University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 8 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $15,702 for plains states region geology students per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UMKC Geological & Earth Sciences Report
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