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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southwest Region

68 Ranked Colleges
961 Degrees Awarded
$29,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 95th most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Southwest region, there were 961 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,993 and $21,962 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 68 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. To top this list, a school must have a successful geological and earth sciences program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region

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

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region. Texas A&M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 144 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Texas A&M University - College Station

2
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 102 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Houston

3
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 ’s 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.

Full University of Arizona Geological & Earth Sciences Report

4

Out of the 68 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 54 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

5
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Out of the 68 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #5 spot on the list. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Texas Tech University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

6

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Geological & Earth Sciences Report

7

With a ranking of #7, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 32 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Dallas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 39 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UTSA Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 30 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full OSU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

8

University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #11, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Northern Arizona University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

Rice University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Rice University

13
Baylor crest
Baylor University
Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #13, Baylor University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 22 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, 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%.

Full Baylor Geological & Earth Sciences Report

14

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. SFASU is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stephen F Austin State University

15

University of Houston - Downtown landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. UH Downtown is a fairly large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 18 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 University of Houston - Downtown Geological & Earth Sciences Report

15

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso

17

With a ranking of #17, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UT Arlington

17
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Tulsa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 17 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Tulsa

19

With a ranking of #19, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. New Mexico Tech is located in Socorro, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 New Mexico Tech

19

With a ranking of #19, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

21
MSU Texas crest
MSU Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

With a ranking of #21, MSU Texas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Texas

21

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full ASU - Tempe Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21

Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Kingsville, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Full Texas A&M University - Kingsville Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

Full NMSU Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

25

Southern Methodist University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. SMU is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University

25

Sam Houston State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Sam Houston State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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