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2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

23 Ranked Colleges
624 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,918 people earned their degree in geological and earth sciences, making the major the 84th most popular in the United States. 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 Southwest region, there were 1,136 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,627 and $21,949 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 624 geological and earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 23 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 13 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, UT Permian Basin has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is $10,092 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Dallas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Dallas is $15,232 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 42 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, UT Austin has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $18,023 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UT Austin

#4

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 50 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $12,838 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

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

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Houston

#5

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 bachelors’s geology degrees to qualified students.

University of Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $15,016 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

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

Full University of Arizona Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $17,571 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend Texas Tech.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas Tech University

#7

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 15 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $10,045 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at MSU Texas

With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, UTSA has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UTSA is $13,853 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UTSA

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 74 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $19,057 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M College Station

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UTEP is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTEP, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTEP is $8,920 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso

#16 in overall quality

University of Houston - Downtown ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Downtown also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend UH Downtown is $6,848 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Full UH Downtown Geological & Earth Sciences Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Main Campus is $8,659 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at NMSU Main Campus

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 18 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, OSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,648 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Arlington is $14,246 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas at Arlington

#15

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Stephenville, Texas, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tarleton is $18,979 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Tarleton

#16

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a 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 SHSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $14,617 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at SHSU

#17

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geology students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,332 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

#22 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

SFASU also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $13,723 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stephen F Austin State University

#19

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#23 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $14,446 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

#20

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #20, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. NAU is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 27 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Arizona University is $12,915 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Northern Arizona University

With a ranking of #21, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 14 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,145 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 University of Oklahoma

#22

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #22, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Baylor University is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 12 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor also made our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor is $36,039 for southwest region bachelor’s degree geology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Full Baylor University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

#23

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

With a ranking of #23, Texas Christian University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. TCU is a fairly large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 11 bachelors’s geology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TCU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Geological & Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas Christian University is $36,811 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Geology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at TCU

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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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