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2025 Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region

8 Colleges in the Plains States Region
482 Geology Degrees Awarded
$43,196 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in geological & earth sciences, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #95 in the country in terms of popularity. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

College Factual looked at 8 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 482 degrees in geological & earth sciences to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Geological & Earth Sciences School

Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region Your choice of geological & earth sciences school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for geological & earth sciences schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Geological & Earth Sciences Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Geology
Master's Degrees in Geology
Doctor's Degrees in Geology

The geology 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 the Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Plains States Region

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Plains States Region Schools in Geology

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Geology Degrees Awarded
16.7% Growth in Graduates

It is hard to beat University of Minnesota - Twin Cities if you wish to pursue a degree in geological & earth sciences. UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.

There were approximately 48 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the geology program make an average of $44,825 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

2
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NE
34.8% Growth in Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences has to take a look at University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Located in the large city of Lincoln, UNL is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 19 colleges for overall quality in the state of Nebraska.

There were about 23 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at UNL in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Geosciences Program Name

Gain the analytical, technical and science communications skills you need to begin your career with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BS in Geosciences from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In IA
19.2% Growth in Graduates

University of Iowa is a wonderful option for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences. Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #80 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa is a great university overall.

There were approximately 26 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from University of Iowa

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$50,150 Median Starting Salary

It is hard to beat Iowa State University if you wish to pursue a degree in geological & earth sciences. Iowa State is a very large public university located in the city of Ames. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.

There were about 20 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent year we have data available. Geological & Earth Sciences degree recipients from Iowa State University get an earnings boost of about $6,954 over the average earnings of geological & earth sciences graduates.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from Iowa State University

5
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$41,626 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 44 schools for overall quality in the state of Kansas.

There were approximately 21 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at KU in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the geology program state that they receive average early career income of $41,626.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from University of Kansas

6
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
53 Geology Degrees Awarded
$34,481 Median Starting Salary

Missouri State is a very large public university located in the city of Springfield. This university ranks 10th out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were about 53 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the geology program report average early career earnings of $34,481.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from Missouri State University - Springfield

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In MO
54.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #131 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Mizzou is a great university overall.

There were about 24 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Mizzou in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from University of Missouri - Columbia

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Geosciences - Natural Resources Conservation Program Name

Learn to manage and conserve our natural resources with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BS in Geosciences - Natural Resources Conservation from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In KS
11.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the town of Hays, FHSU is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 26th out of 44 colleges for overall quality in the state of Kansas.

There were about 27 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at FHSU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from Fort Hays State University

Best Geological & Earth Sciences Colleges by State

Explore the best geological & earth sciences colleges for a specific state in the Plains States Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 284 133
Missouri 283 100
Kansas 266 68
Iowa 264 53
Nebraska 238 18
North Dakota 210 12
South Dakota 204 13

View All Rankings >

One of 8 majors within the Physical Sciences area of study, Geological & Earth Sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.

Geology Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Geology & Earth Sciences 382
Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences 63
Hydrology & Water Resources Science 20
Geophysics & Seismology 9
Paleontology 5
Geochemistry 3

View All Geology Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 1,501
Physics 721
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 103
Astronomy & Astrophysics 38
Materials Sciences 25
General Physical Sciences 17
Other Physical Science 10

View All Geology Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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