2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 133 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,560 and $37,817 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geological and earth sciences program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 14 Best Value Master’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 University of Wyoming. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
UW also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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 Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 U of U are $24,695.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Utah
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
BYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this large public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Colorado State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State University - Fort Collins are $28,055, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Idaho. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Idaho is a fairly large public school situated in Moscow, Idaho. It awarded 3 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
U of I also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Idaho are $29,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Idaho
University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. CU - Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s geology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region master’s degree geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Boulder are $32,980, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Utah State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 8 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
USU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Utah State University are $22,598, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Utah State University
Colorado School of Mines ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Golden, Colorado, this medium-sized public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified masters’s geology students in 2019-2020.
Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mines are $39,800, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The University of Montana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. The University of Montana is a medium-sized school located in Missoula, Montana that handed out 4 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
UM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Montana are $23,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Montana
With a ranking of #10, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Northern Colorado is a fairly large public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Northern Colorado did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 University of Northern Colorado are $21,708.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Colorado
Montana Technological University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 10 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
Montana Tech also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Montana Tech are $19,429, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana Technological University
With a ranking of #12, Boise State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boise State University are $26,566, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Boise State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Montana State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Montana State University is a fairly large public school situated in Bozeman, Montana. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Bozeman, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’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 MSU Bozeman are $21,446.
Full Montana State University Geological & Earth Sciences Report
With a ranking of #14, Idaho State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Master’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Idaho State University is a fairly large public school situated in Pocatello, Idaho. It awarded 6 masters’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.
ISU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Idaho State University are $26,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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Geological & Earth Sciences students with family income $75-$110k in the Rocky Mountains Region
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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