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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

42 Ranked Colleges
723 Degrees Awarded
$8,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Geology & Earth Sciences is the 101st most popular major in the country with 7,036 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 951 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 723 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 42 colleges that offered a degree in geology and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geology and earth sciences 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 geology and earth sciences 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 Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Northwestern Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $3,166 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Geology & Earth Sciences at U-M

#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 #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 43 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UW - Madison Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,483 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Purdue

#6

Oberlin College

Oberlin, Ohio
#4 in overall quality

Oberlin College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Oberlin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Oberlin also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin College is $9,037 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Oberlin College

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Michigan State

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,194 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Geology & Earth Sciences at Ohio State

#9

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#17 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $4,969 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Geology & Earth Sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington

#10

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,366 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at UW - River Falls

#11

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $11,446 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#12

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin
#16 in overall quality

Beloit College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Beloit, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Beloit College is $8,574 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Beloit College

#22 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 16 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $5,052 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at IUPUI

#14

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Green Bay also took the #20 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,337 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#15

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#13 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $11,528 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UW - Eau Claire

#16

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 13 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Ball State

#17

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $11,578 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Grand Valley State University

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $6,652 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#19 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 18 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,687 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW Oshkosh.

Full UW Oshkosh Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#21

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,244 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USI.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Full USI Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#22

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne is $7,129 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full PFW Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#23

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, NIU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $15,281 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at NIU

#24

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $13,021 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Western Michigan University Geology & Earth Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,759 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Miami University - Oxford Geology & Earth Sciences Report

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.

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