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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

36 Ranked Colleges
$27,200 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 8,124 people earned their degree in geological & earth sciences, making the major the 95th most popular in the United States. In , geological & earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $38,869 and had an average of $22,278 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 482 geological & earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,405 and $23,979 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in geological & earth sciences. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geological & earth sciences.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region geology students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

1
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region. Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Carleton

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region. SD Mines is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report

3
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macalester College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Macalester College is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 15 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Macalester

4
5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

6
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, Cornell College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It awarded 7 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Cornell College

7

Missouri University of Science and Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in Rolla, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 29 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 10 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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%.

Full UMN Duluth Geological & Earth Sciences Report

9
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #9, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Winona State

10

With a ranking of #10, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 53 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11

Fort Hays State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 27 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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 FHSU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

12
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 2 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full MSU Moorhead Geological & Earth Sciences Report

14

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

15

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

16
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 KU

17

Emporia State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at ESU

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 5 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Iowa

19

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 48 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, 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 92%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

20
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full St. Cloud State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 23 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

22

Iowa State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State

23

Washington University in St Louis ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 0.4% 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 Washington University in St Louis

24

With a ranking of #24, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 2 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City

25
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 26 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

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 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Iowa

Notes and References

References

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