2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in New Jersey
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geological & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geological & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Kean University the best value for a degree in geological & earth sciences in New Jersey. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $50,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $43,985. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,830 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $47,045 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,830 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 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.
