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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

10 Ranked Colleges
64 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Geological & Earth Sciences is the 84th most popular major in the country with 8,918 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 64 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,140 and $97,138 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geological and earth sciences 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 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 “Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region doctor’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 10 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

#1

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #1 spot on the list. UW is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 11 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW are $16,615, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UW

#2

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Utah. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Utah

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Boulder. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CU - Boulder not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CU - Boulder are $32,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Colorado State is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 6 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Colorado State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State are $28,055.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado State University - Fort Collins

#5

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Idaho. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Idaho is a fairly large public school situated in Moscow, Idaho. It awarded 2 doctorate’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 Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U of I are $29,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U of I Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#1 in overall quality

Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Mines is a medium-sized public school situated in Golden, Colorado. It awarded 12 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Mines also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mines are $39,800.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado School of Mines

#10 in overall quality

Utah State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. USU is a large public school situated in Logan, Utah. It awarded 1 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USU are $22,598.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at USU

#8

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#9 in overall quality

The University of Montana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. UM is a public institution located in Missoula, Montana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UM also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM are $23,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Montana

#9

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#7 in overall quality

Boise State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boise State University is a large school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 8 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Boise State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State are $26,566.

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

#10

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
#6 in overall quality

Montana State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Montana State University is a fairly large school located in Bozeman, Montana that handed out 5 doctorate’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Bozeman also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Bozeman are $21,446, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Bozeman

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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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