2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $31,256 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $34,329. That is a strong return on a $31,256 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $26,315. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $48,890. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $30,101. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
More Geology & Earth Sciences Rankings
View All Geology & Earth Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
