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2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k

14 Ranked Colleges
215 Degrees Awarded
$10,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Geological & Geophysical Engineering is the 643rd most popular major in the country with 418 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 215 geological and geophysical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in geological and geophysical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geological and geophysical engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geological and geophysical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Geophysical Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 19 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $4,367 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 & Geophysical Engineering at UW - Madison

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #2 spot on the list. Michigan Technological University is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan Tech, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,295 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan Technological University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

#3

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Mississippi. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ole Miss is located in University, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to qualified students.

Ole Miss not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $9,455 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of Mississippi

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $8,553 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 96%.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles

#5

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,266 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#8 in overall quality

Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Rolla, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $10,755 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geological & Geophysical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Alaska Fairbanks did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fairbanks, Alaska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UAF also made our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $7,133 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks

#3 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $12,203 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Austin.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at UT Austin

#9

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#1 in overall quality

Colorado School of Mines landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Golden, Colorado, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mines has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado School of Mines is $17,276 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 & Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

#10

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#12 in overall quality

University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. U of U is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of U, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Utah is $11,511 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Utah Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#11

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#9 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

UND also made our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $11,092 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 more about Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of North Dakota

#11 in overall quality

Montana Technological University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Montana Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Montana Technological University is $11,010 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Montana Technological University Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Nevada - Reno came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNR has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,587 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nevada - Reno.

Read more about Geological & Geophysical Engineering at UNR

#10 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SD Mines is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 15 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also made our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $15,464 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SD Mines.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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