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

36 Ranked Colleges
430 Degrees Awarded
$28,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Plains States region, there were 430 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,405 and $25,612 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 36 colleges that offered 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.

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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 Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 59 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield

3
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Kansas. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Kansas

3

Out of the 36 schools in the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Fort Hays State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Fort Hays State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 21 ’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 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State

5
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small 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 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Carleton College

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

9

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized 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 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Duluth Geological & Earth Sciences Report

10

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 15 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, 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 85%.

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

11

Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 Washington University in St Louis

12
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized 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 Winona State University

13

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Mizzou

13
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. K -State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at K -State

13

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

13

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

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%.

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

17

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 9 ’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 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

18
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified ’s geology students 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 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. 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Macalester College

18

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 8 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 University of Missouri - Kansas City

20

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Northwest is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University

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

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at St. Cloud State University

20

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 11 ’s geology degrees 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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Minnesota State Mankato

23

Emporia State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Emporia State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 6 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Emporia State University

23

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MSU Moorhead Geological & Earth Sciences Report

25
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 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 90%. 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%. 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SLU

25

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geology Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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