2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in California
104
Ranked Colleges
994
Degrees Awarded
$32,600
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 7,821 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 95th most popular in the United States. 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 California, there were 994 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,206 and $19,545 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking, we looked at 104 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geological and earth sciences.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in California
Out of the 104 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California Institute of Technology
Out of the 104 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #2 spot on the list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 100 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Occidental College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Oxy is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Occidental College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Humboldt State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 65 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #6, Pitzer College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Pitzer is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 2 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Pitzer
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of California - Merced ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. UC Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Merced
University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - San Diego
Sonoma State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. SSU is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Sonoma State University
With a ranking of #12, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 70 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UC Irvine
With a ranking of #13, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full California State University - Bakersfield Geological & Earth Sciences Report
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Full California State University - Stanislaus Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of California - Riverside came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 30 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Riverside
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Fresno Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #18, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 43 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UC Davis
University of California - Berkeley landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #20, Scripps College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Scripps
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at CSUDH
With a ranking of #22, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 29 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
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 2.2% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SDSU
With a ranking of #23, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Cal State LA Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Pomona College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 1 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Pomona Geological & Earth Sciences Report
California State University - Chico ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Chico State is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Chico
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