2026 Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Illinois
Geological & Earth Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geological & earth sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geological & earth sciences schools.
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Best Schools for Geological & Earth Sciences in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall geological & earth sciences education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Geological & Earth Sciences
Our analysis ranked Illinois State University the best school in the country for a degree in geological & earth sciences. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 26 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 28 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $38,867 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Read more about the geological & earth sciences program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $37,280 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full geological & earth sciences program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
More Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
