2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Minnesota
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geological & earth sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Minnesota
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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for geological & earth sciences in Minnesota. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,700 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $44,825 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,700 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Winona State University earned it the #2 place for geological & earth sciences. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $36,984. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Carleton College one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $17,566. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $40,371. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. The acceptance rate is 20%.
A rank of #4 makes Macalester College one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $42,517. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
