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2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region

83 Ranked Colleges
818 Degrees Awarded
$30,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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 the Great Lakes region, there were 818 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,990 and $23,096 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 83 colleges that offered a degree in geological and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular geological and earth sciences programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region geology students.

1

Out of the 83 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U-M

2

Out of the 83 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 50 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wright State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 37 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Miami University - Oxford. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Miami University - Oxford

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 34 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Michigan State

5
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s geology degrees to qualified 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Purdue Geological & Earth Sciences Report

7
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 38 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Western Michigan University

8

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Ohio State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

9

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UIC

10

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UC

11

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at OHIO Athens

11
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwestern

13

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Geological & Earth Sciences Report

13

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UWM

15

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Kent State University at Kent

16
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UChicago Geological & Earth Sciences Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full IU Bloomington Geological & Earth Sciences Report

17

Michigan Technological University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan Technological University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

17

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 16 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus

20
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Wayne State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21
Northland crest
Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin

Northland College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northland College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Northland Geological & Earth Sciences Report

22

Grand Valley State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at GVSU

23

Illinois State University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

25
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #25, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana State

25

Northern Illinois University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 10 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northern Illinois University

25

With a ranking of #25, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at SIUC

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