2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Wisconsin
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geology & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #1 spot for value among geology & earth sciences schools in Wisconsin. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $43,068. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $42,932. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $44,207. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
