2023 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
11
Ranked Colleges
430
Degrees Awarded
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 7,821 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 95th most popular in the United States. 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 Plains States region, there were 430 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,405 and $25,612 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 11 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.
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
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,911 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region geology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $14,641 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa State
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 4 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Morris also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $6,691 for plains states region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UMN Morris
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 11 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $13,715 for Plains States Region 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 undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 University of Missouri - Columbia Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #5 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,364 for plains states region geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Duluth.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Geological & Earth Sciences Report
Carleton College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Carleton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Carleton also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton College is $15,991 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Carleton College
University of Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 21 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $18,026 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Iowa
Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 59 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $15,950 for plains states region geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 8 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,768 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMKC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UMKC
University of Kansas landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geology Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 27 ’s geology degrees in 2020-2021.
KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend KU is $18,586 for Plains States Region Geology students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full KU Geological & Earth Sciences Report
