2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
12
Ranked Colleges
526
Degrees Awarded
$12,100
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Geological & Earth Sciences is the 95th most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geological and earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,705 and had an average of $23,383 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 526 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,791 and $24,175 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geological and earth sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geological and earth sciences programs, but they also 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.
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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools 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. University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wyoming is $6,905 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Full UW Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BYU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $9,445 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Provo
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Colorado Boulder landed the #3 spot on the list. CU - Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 64 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Boulder is $13,141 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Colorado Boulder
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 39 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
U of U also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $10,431 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U of U.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Utah Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado School of Mines. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Golden, Colorado, this medium-sized public school handed out 58 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mines has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $16,977 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Colorado School of Mines.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Mines Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Colorado State is located in Fort Collins, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Colorado State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State is $11,924 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Colorado State University - Fort Collins
University of Idaho ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of I is a fairly large school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 18 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
U of I also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $10,816 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U of I.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
Full U of I Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Northern Colorado landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, Colorado and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
University of Northern Colorado did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Colorado is $13,150 for rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Northern Colorado
Boise State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Boise, Idaho, and it awarded 24 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region geology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Boise State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,561 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boise State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Boise State University
Montana State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bozeman, Montana, this fairly large public school awarded 47 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
MSU Bozeman also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend MSU Bozeman is $15,986 for Rocky Mountains Region Geology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Bozeman
