2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,042 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,733 and $23,415 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 184 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 26 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.
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Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northwestern
Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Chicago
Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 7 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Michigan State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.
With a ranking of #11, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Ball State University
With a ranking of #12, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Illinois State University
Indiana State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana State is a fairly large public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Indiana State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana State University
Northern Illinois University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #17, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Miami University - Oxford Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Western Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 13 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.
Wayne State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Wayne State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
UWM also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.
Kent State University at Kent landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Kent State University at Kent
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wright State University - Main Campus has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
UC also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 2 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Case Western Reserve University
With a ranking of #25, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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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.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.
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