2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in New York
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
Cuny Brooklyn College tops our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools in New York. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $40,843 early in their careers. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Suny College At Oswego one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $41,899. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #3 makes State University Of New York At New Paltz one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $40,524 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. Students from in state pay about $8,999 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,275 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $27,395. Set against $24,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $21,065 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $34,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $39,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #7 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Cornell University placed #8 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,005. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Syracuse University came in at #9 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geological & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.
