2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology in California (With Aid)

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Geophysics & Seismology is the 674th most popular major in the country with 251 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 57 geophysics and seismology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 27 geophysics and seismology graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 5 colleges that offered a degree in geophysics and seismology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geophysics and seismology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geophysics and seismology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The geophysics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 5 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

#1 in overall quality

$55,011 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s geophysics degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Full Stanford Geophysics & Seismology Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

#2 in overall quality

$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at University of California - Los Angeles

#3

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

#4 in overall quality

$18,658 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 3 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at SDSU

#4

University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,631 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. University of California - San Diego is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 4 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geophysics & Seismology at UCSD

#5

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California

#2 in overall quality

$56,649 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Geophysics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 1 doctorate’s geophysics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Caltech, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geophysics & Seismology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649.

Read full report on Geophysics & Seismology at California Institute of Technology

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geophysics & Seismology (With Aid)

Notes and References

References

• 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).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.

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