2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geology & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee
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
The University Of Tennessee Martin tops our 2027 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools in Tennessee. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $40,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $31,256. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $34,329. That is a strong return on a $31,256 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $17,580. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes East Tennessee State University one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $21,301. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $45,444. Set against $21,301 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geology & earth sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $26,000. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $30,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
