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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

19 Ranked Colleges
410 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 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.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

More Ways to Rank Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

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 $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

#1

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wyoming is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 43 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UW is $9,200 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wyoming

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, BYU - I has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $3,595 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full BYU - I Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#3

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U of U is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,192 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend U of U.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at U of U

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

BYU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $10,425 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Brigham Young University - Provo

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #5 spot on the list. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Colorado State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $11,890 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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 $30-$48k ranking. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school awarded 51 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students 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. The estimated yearly cost for CU - Boulder is $14,361 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Geological & Earth Sciences Report

With a ranking of #7, Weber State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Weber State University 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.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, WSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WSU is $10,980 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at WSU

#8

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho

University of Idaho did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. U of I is a fairly large school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, U of I has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Idaho is $11,735 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full U of I Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#15 in overall quality

Utah State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

USU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $12,034 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Utah State University.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at USU

#10

Fort Lewis College

Durango, Colorado

Fort Lewis College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FLC is a small school located in Durango, Colorado that handed out 13 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

FLC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FLC is $12,909 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at FLC

#11

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missoula, Montana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UM also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend The University of Montana is $14,314 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UM Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#16 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University of Denver came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Metropolitan State University of Denver is located in Denver, Colorado and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Denver, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Denver is $12,219 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Denver

#13

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

University of Northern Colorado ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Greeley, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

University of Northern Colorado also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $12,736 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Colorado.

Full University of Northern Colorado Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#14

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Western, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $14,744 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Colorado University.

Full Western Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#19 in overall quality

Utah Valley University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Orem, Utah, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UVU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $8,047 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UVU.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Utah Valley University

#16

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho

Boise State 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 $30-$48k ranking. Located in Boise, Idaho, this large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,146 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Boise State University.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Boise State 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 $30-$48k ranking. Bozeman, Montana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 35 students 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. The yearly cost to attend MSU Bozeman is $16,625 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Montana State University

#18

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
#17 in overall quality

Colorado Mesa University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa University is $13,624 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Colorado Mesa University

#19

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho

With a ranking of #19, Idaho State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pocatello, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, ISU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $15,639 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ISU.

Full ISU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

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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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