Best Schools for Geological & Earth Sciences in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in geological & earth sciences, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Geological & Earth Sciences
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for geological & earth sciences. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 43 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geological & earth sciences, ranking #2. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $61,361 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
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Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geological & earth sciences, ranking #3. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 14 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Brown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geological & earth sciences, ranking #4. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong geological & earth sciences program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
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Washington University In St Louis earned the #6 position for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 11 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $68,303 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine placed #7 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 12 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $38,804. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #10 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 10 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $43,068. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #11 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $42,062 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,487.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #12 position for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 22 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $44,825 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,700 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut placed #13 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 12 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #14 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $47,045. Typical student debt for the program is $24,830.
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University Of Miami landed the #15 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 16 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $57,234 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #16 for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 39 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $29,724. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz placed #17 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 16 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $43,362 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $20,833 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #18 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 10 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #19 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $42,218. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Rhode Island ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. University Of Rhode Island graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 42 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $52,821 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #21 for geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. About 12 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $49,907 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #22 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. This large public university is located in the town of Durham. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $52,064 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,368 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #23 for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $70,539 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,837.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #24 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 12 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $39,692 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #25 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates 67% of students within six years. About 12 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
These schools also placed among the best for geological & earth sciences this year:
Other Geological & Earth Sciences Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Geological & Earth Sciences rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 597 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.
