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2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

11 Ranked Colleges
340 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 6,024 people earned their degree in geology and earth sciences, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 340 geology and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 11 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geology and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $8,609 for plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

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

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Geology & Earth Sciences Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $11,427 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Iowa State University

3

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 4 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $2,230 for plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris

4
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,410 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Carleton College.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad 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%.

Full Carleton Geology & Earth Sciences Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $8,697 for plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

6

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,386 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Mizzou

7
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $15,508 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Iowa

8

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $13,144 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Missouri State

9

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMKC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,751 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMKC.

The school has an impressive undergrad 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 UMKC

10
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,288 for plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend KU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at KU

11
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Winona State is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 12 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $12,963 for plains states region geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Winona State University

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