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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences

208 Ranked Colleges
1,663 Degrees Awarded
$59,807 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Geology Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major” ranking - to help you make that 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,663 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major” ranking analyzed 208 colleges that offered a degree in geological and earth sciences. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their geological and earth sciences program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The geology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major”.

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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences

1

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Socorro, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report

2
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado School of Mines. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Mines

3

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 14 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California Institute of Technology

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Montana Technological University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major. This small school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Montana Technological University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

5
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Mississippi State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Mississippi State is a large public school situated in Mississippi State, Mississippi. It awarded 81 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Mississippi State University

6
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #6. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 The Graduate Center, CUNY

7
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University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #7. University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Tulsa

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Alaska Fairbanks did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Fairbanks, Alaska, and it awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Alaska Fairbanks

9
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford University

10

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11

Michigan Technological University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 Michigan Tech

12
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #12. University of Southern Mississippi is a fairly large school located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi that handed out 21 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Southern Miss

13
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Princeton University

14
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

North Carolina Central University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at North Carolina Central University

15
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

Rice University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.2% 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%.

Full Rice Geological & Earth Sciences Report

16

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #16. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Wright State University - Main Campus

17

University of Louisiana at Lafayette came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and it awarded 15 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UL Lafayette Geological & Earth Sciences Report

18

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SD Mines

19
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Brown University

20

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. UH Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 16 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full University of Hawaii at Manoa Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21

Sul Ross State University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Sul Ross is a small school located in Alpine, Texas that handed out 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Sul Ross State University

22

University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. UNCW is a fairly large school located in Wilmington, North Carolina that handed out 18 masters’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 North Carolina at Wilmington

23

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Stephen F Austin State University

24

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full Texas A&M College Station Geological & Earth Sciences Report

25

University of California - San Diego ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major list. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 UCSD

Rest of the Best 32 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geology Major

Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
27
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University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
28
29
30
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
31
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
32

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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