2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
12
Ranked Colleges
530
Degrees Awarded
$16,100
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 Pennsylvania, there were 530 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,649 and $26,198 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 12 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.
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.
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 in Pennsylvania 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Pitt is a large public school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 75 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Pitt has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $17,691 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #2 spot on the list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized school located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania that handed out 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,507 for pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SRU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 SRU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 58 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
Bloomsburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is $16,956 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edinboro, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Edinboro has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Edinboro is $13,001 for pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Edinboro Geological & Earth Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Temple University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Temple University is a large public school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 13 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Temple is $19,355 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Temple
California University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. California University of Pennsylvania is located in California, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal U, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,063 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal U.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Millersville has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millersville is $18,798 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Millersville
With a ranking of #8, University of Pittsburgh - Bradford did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradford, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Pitt Bradford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $11,724 for pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Bradford.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford
Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Clarion University is located in Clarion, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
Clarion University also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $16,521 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Lock Haven University is a small school located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
LHU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $17,898 for pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lock Haven University.
Full LHU Geological & Earth Sciences Report
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt Johnstown, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $11,073 for Pennsylvania Geology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitt Johnstown.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUP is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
IUP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is $19,003 for pennsylvania geology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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
- *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.
