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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences

540 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2021-2022, 6,214 people earned their degree in geology & earth sciences, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major” ranking looked at 540 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geology & earth sciences. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their geology & earth sciences program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Geology & Earth Sciences Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geology & Earth Sciences

1
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Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northland College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major. Northland is a small school located in Ashland, Wisconsin that handed out 5 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northland Geology & Earth Sciences Report

2
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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 #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major. Carleton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 18 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Carleton Geology & Earth Sciences Report

3
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Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mississippi State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Mississippi State University is a large school located in Mississippi State, Mississippi that handed out 171 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Mississippi State

4
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Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major. Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Colorado College

5
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Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bowdoin College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Located in Brunswick, Maine, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Bowdoin College

6

7
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Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Susquehanna University

8

California Institute of Technology landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. California Institute of Technology is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 9 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Caltech

9
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Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #9. Beloit, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Beloit College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

10
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Bates College
Lewiston, Maine

Bates College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Located in Lewiston, Maine, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Bates College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

11
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University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #11, University of Florida-Online did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. University of Florida-Online is a medium-sized public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 22 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at University of Florida-Online

12

With a ranking of #12, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. New Mexico Tech is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

13

Washington and Lee University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Washington and Lee is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 7 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Washington and Lee

14
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Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #14. Oxy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Occidental College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

15
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Union College New York
Schenectady, New York

With a ranking of #15, Union College New York did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Union College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Schenectady, New York. It awarded 0 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Union College

16
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Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #16. Smith is a small school located in Northampton, Massachusetts that handed out 15 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at Smith College

17

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. SD Mines is a small public school situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awarded 13 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Read more about Geology & Earth Sciences at SD Mines

18
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Juniata College
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #18, Juniata College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Juniata is a small school located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania that handed out 6 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at Juniata College

19
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St Lawrence University
Canton, New York

St Lawrence University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. St Lawrence University is located in Canton, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Geology & Earth Sciences at St. Lawrence

20
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Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #20, Williams College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Williams is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Williams College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

21
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Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

With a ranking of #21, Pacific Lutheran University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Located in Tacoma, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Pacific Lutheran University

22
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Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado

Fort Lewis College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Durango, Colorado, and it awarded 12 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Fort Lewis College

23
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Hamilton College
Clinton, New York

Hamilton College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major list. Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clinton, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Hamilton College Geology & Earth Sciences Report

24
SUNY Geneseo crest
SUNY Geneseo
Geneseo, New York

SUNY Geneseo came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. Geneseo, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 14 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY Geneseo Geology & Earth Sciences Report

25
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The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major ranking. The Graduate Center, CUNY is a medium-sized school located in New York, New York that handed out 11 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 The Graduate Center, CUNY

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN
27
28
29
30
31
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Albion College
Albion, MI
32
33
34
35
36
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Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
37
38
39
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Guilford College
Greensboro, NC
40
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Earlham College
Richmond, IN
41
42
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Hanover College
Hanover, IN
43
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Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
44
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Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
45
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Trinity University
San Antonio, TX
46
47
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SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam, NY
48
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Rice University
Houston, TX
49
50
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Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51MSU TexasWichita Falls, TX
52Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA
53Western Colorado UniversityGunnison, CO
54Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA
55Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA
56Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY
57East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN
58University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI
59Rocky Mountain CollegeBillings, MT
60William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA
61Westminster College UtahSalt Lake City, UT
62Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, TX
63Humboldt State UniversityArcata, CA
64Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL
65Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA
RankCollegeLocation
66Concord UniversityAthens, WV
67Sewanee - The University of the SouthSewanee, TN
68University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC
69Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA
70University of WyomingLaramie, WY
71Brown UniversityProvidence, RI
72University of California - Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA
73Edinboro University of PennsylvaniaEdinboro, PA
74Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH
75Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA
76Furman UniversityGreenville, SC
77Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA
78SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
79Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MD
80Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY
81University of Minnesota - DuluthDuluth, MN
82West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV

Notes and References

References

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