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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

19 Ranked Colleges
410 Degrees Awarded
$11,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Rocky Mountains region, there were 630 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,529 and $23,431 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 410 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,111 and $23,874 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in geological and earth sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geological and earth sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. BYU - I is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BYU - I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $2,637 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Idaho

#2

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 43 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW is $8,231 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Utah. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, U of U has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $11,511 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full U of U Geological & Earth Sciences Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $8,834 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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 92%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Provo

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Colorado State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $11,831 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado State

University of Colorado Boulder landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 51 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,366 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Colorado Boulder.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at CU - Boulder

Weber State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WSU is located in Ogden, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

WSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $9,790 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Weber State University.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at WSU

#8

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho

With a ranking of #8, University of Idaho did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Moscow, Idaho, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

U of I not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of I is $10,877 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at U of I

#15 in overall quality

Utah State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Logan, Utah, this large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, USU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Utah State University is $10,643 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Utah State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#10

Fort Lewis College

Durango, Colorado

Fort Lewis College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fort Lewis College is located in Durango, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, FLC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FLC is $13,108 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at FLC

#11

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UM is located in Missoula, Montana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

UM also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $13,064 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UM.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Montana

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Utah Valley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UVU is a large school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UVU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $7,334 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UVU.

Full UVU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

With a ranking of #13, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Northern Colorado not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Colorado is $11,571 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Northern Colorado Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#16 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

MSU Denver not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University of Denver is $11,531 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver

#15

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho

With a ranking of #15, Boise State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boise State University is a large public school situated in Boise, Idaho. It awarded 24 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boise State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,000 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boise State.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Boise State University

#16

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Gunnison, Colorado, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Western also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $13,018 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Western Colorado University

#17

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana

Montana State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bozeman, Montana, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Bozeman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $15,706 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU Bozeman.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana State University

#18

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Colorado Mesa University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Colorado Mesa University is a medium-sized school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Colorado Mesa also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa University is $12,708 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado Mesa

#19

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho

Idaho State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Idaho State University is a fairly large school located in Pocatello, Idaho that handed out 7 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

ISU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $14,680 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ISU.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Idaho State University

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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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