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2025 Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools

144 Colleges in the United States
5,022 Bachelor's Degrees
$40,083 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #80 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

College Factual reviewed 144 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for bachelor's degree seekers in the field of geological & earth sciences. Combined, these schools handed out 5,022 bachelor's degrees in geological & earth sciences to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Geological & Earth Sciences School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools Your choice of geological & earth sciences for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for geological & earth sciences students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Geology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Geological & Earth Sciences in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Geology

1
31 Annual Graduates

Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences needs to look into University of California - Berkeley. UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the city of Berkeley.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Berkeley

2
65 Annual Graduates
$44,585 Median Starting Salary
$33,041 Median Student Debt

Texas A&M University - College Station is a good option for students interested in a bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences. Located in the medium-sized city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the geological & earth sciences major at Texas A&M University - College Station make $4,502 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from Texas A&M University - College Station

3
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
18 Annual Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences needs to look into Lehigh University. Located in the small city of Bethlehem, Lehigh is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from Lehigh University

4
89 Annual Graduates
$29,724 Median Starting Salary
$21,400 Median Student Debt

University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a good option for students interested in a bachelor's degree in geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the geology program earn around $29,724 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

5

Located in the large city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the geology program state that they receive average early career wages of $38,617.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Arizona

6

Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a very large student population.

Those geological & earth sciences students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison receive $2,985 more than the standard geology student.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Wisconsin - Madison

7
82 Annual Graduates
$38,652 Median Starting Salary
$38,329 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Soon after graduation, geology bachelor's recipients usually earn an average of $38,652 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

8

Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the geology program state that they receive average early career wages of $30,759.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Santa Barbara

9

U-M is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.

Geological & Earth Sciences bachelor's degree recipients from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor earn a boost of around $5,891 above the average earnings of geological & earth sciences majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

10

Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the geology program report average early career earnings of $42,062.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from The University of Texas at Austin

11

Located in the small suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the geological & earth sciences degree program at University of California - Davis earn $3,379 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Davis

12
55 Annual Graduates
$43,362 Median Starting Salary
$25,893 Median Student Debt

UC Santa Cruz is a large public university located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

Bachelor's recipients from the geological & earth sciences major at University of California - Santa Cruz earn $3,279 above the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Santa Cruz

13
15 Annual Graduates

UCSD is a very large public university located in the large city of La Jolla.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - San Diego

14

Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

After graduating, geology bachelor's recipients generally make around $34,658 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from Columbia University in the City of New York

15

UC Irvine is a fairly large public university located in the city of Irvine.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the geology program earn around $38,804 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Irvine

16
12 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of California - Los Angeles

17
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

U of U is a fairly large public university located in the city of Salt Lake City.

Bachelor's recipients from the geological & earth sciences major at University of Utah earn $9,363 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Utah

18
14 Annual Graduates

Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from Cornell University

19

Ohio State is a very large public university located in the large city of Columbus.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the geology program make about $41,156 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from Ohio State University - Main Campus

20

UW is a fairly large public university located in the remote town of Laramie.

Geological & Earth Sciences bachelor's degree recipients from University of Wyoming receive an earnings boost of about $5,675 above the typical income of geological & earth sciences graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Wyoming

21
27 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Norman, University of Oklahoma is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

22
12 Annual Graduates

UNH is a fairly large public university located in the fringe town of Durham.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of New Hampshire - Main Campus

23

Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the geological & earth sciences degree program at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities make $4,742 more than the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

24

Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University at Buffalo is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the geology program state that they receive average early career income of $39,696.

More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University at Buffalo

25
17 Annual Graduates

UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Chapel Hill.More information about a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Rest of the Top Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools

26
27
28
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Geological & Earth Sciences students that almost earned our Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
29 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
30 Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
31 Washington State University Pullman, WA
32 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA
33 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
34 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
35 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
36 University of Houston Houston, TX
37 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
38 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
39 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
40 Iowa State University Ames, IA
41 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO
42 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
43 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
44 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
45 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
46 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
47 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
48 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC

Geological & Earth Sciences by Region

View the Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Geological & Earth Sciences is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.

Geology Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Geology & Earth Sciences 4,075
Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences 584
Chemical & Physical Oceanography 234
Geophysics & Seismology 73
Hydrology & Water Resources Science 35
Geochemistry 12
Paleontology 9

Majors Similar to Geology

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 13,247
Physics 7,715
Astronomy & Astrophysics 1,035
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 828
General Physical Sciences 356
Other Physical Science 192
Materials Sciences 166
Physics and Astronomy 24

Notes and References

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