2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Colorado
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geological & earth sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Colorado
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
Leading the list is University Of Northern Colorado, our #1 best value for geological & earth sciences in Colorado. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $46,954. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #2. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,028 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $41,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,028 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at University Of Colorado Boulder, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $46,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $24,521. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $79,523. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado College one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,734. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $17,921. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $37,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
