2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Michigan

[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geology & earth sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geology & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for geology & earth sciences in Michigan. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $45,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Grand Valley State University one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $38,675 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #4 place for geology & earth sciences. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,869 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $39,997. That is a strong return on a $29,869 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.