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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Indiana

[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geological & earth sciences schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Indiana

2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Indiana

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geological & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools

1

Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

$9,992 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,000 Avg Student Debt

$72,424 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Purdue University Main Campus the best value for a degree in geological & earth sciences in Indiana. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $16,000. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $39,692 early in their careers. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.

2

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

$12,144 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,542 Avg Student Debt

$63,742 Median Earnings (10yr)

Indiana University Bloomington came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $52,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.

View All Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.