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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region

53 Ranked Colleges
1,125 Degrees Awarded
$31,515 Avg Salary
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Southeast region, there were 1,684 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,940 and $23,131 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,125 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 53 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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 Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region

#1

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, UF has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $8,528 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full University of Florida Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#2

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #2 spot on the list. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $8,086 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Vanderbilt

#3

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William & Mary. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $11,721 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at William & Mary

#4

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $11,060 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Geological & Earth Sciences Report

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #5 spot on the list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida International University is $10,298 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Florida International University

#6

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $14,748 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UGA

With a ranking of #7, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $9,809 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USF Tampa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at USF Tampa

#8

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this 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 southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Florida State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $10,583 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Florida State University

#9

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. North Carolina State University is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $15,084 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at North Carolina State University

#9

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northern Kentucky University is $10,039 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at NKU

#11

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. West Virginia University is a large public school situated in Morgantown, West Virginia. It awarded 56 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

WVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $13,220 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at West Virginia University

#12

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

With a ranking of #12, Appalachian State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Appalachian State University is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 33 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Appalachian State also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State is $13,827 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Appalachian State Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#13

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Florida Atlantic University is a public institution located in Boca Raton, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida Atlantic University is $11,786 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full FAU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#14

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Marshall University is $8,488 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Marshall University

With a ranking of #15, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Louisiana State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is $17,328 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#16

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #16, Virginia Tech did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $19,067 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Tech Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#17

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#7 in overall quality

James Madison University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

JMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $19,843 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

Full JMU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#18

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

With a ranking of #18, Murray State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Murray State is a medium-sized school located in Murray, Kentucky that handed out 8 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Murray State University is $11,959 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Murray State University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public institution located in Lafayette, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $13,353 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UL Lafayette

#20

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Southern Mississippi is a fairly large public school situated in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It awarded 9 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Miss is $18,285 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Southern Miss

#21

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $14,822 for southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Middle Tennessee State University

#22

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Statesboro, Georgia, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GaSou, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Southern University is $16,373 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at GaSou

#23

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
#17 in overall quality

University of Kentucky ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, UK has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UK is $15,733 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Kentucky

#24

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. Greenville, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend East Carolina University is $15,784 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at ECU

#25

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 57 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Charlotte also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,299 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNC Charlotte.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full UNC Charlotte 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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