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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

10 Ranked Colleges
117 Degrees Awarded
$9,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 8,918 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 84th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $35,533 and had an average of $23,531 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 166 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,300 and $25,433 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 117 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 10 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geological and earth sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 10 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

MIT also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Massachusetts Institute of Technology is $4,535 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at MIT

#2

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Williams College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Williams is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Williams, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Williams is $2,498 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Williams College

#3

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern University is $10,239 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northeastern University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#4

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wellesley College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Wellesley is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Wellesley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wellesley College is $8,785 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Wellesley Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#5

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Boston College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston College also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $6,353 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boston College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Boston College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Smith is located in Northampton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Smith also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Smith is $6,075 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Geological & Earth Sciences at Smith College

#7

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMass Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 19 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Massachusetts Amherst is $13,137 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Massachusetts Amherst Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#8

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Bridgewater State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Bridgewater State is a fairly large public school situated in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It awarded 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bridgewater State is $13,332 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Bridgewater State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#9

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Salem State is a public institution located in Salem, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Salem State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $14,593 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Salem State.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Salem State

#10

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Framingham State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Framingham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Framingham State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $14,612 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Framingham State University.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Framingham State

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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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