2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Florida
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 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 Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geological & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among geological & earth sciences schools in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $24,757 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $40,691 early in their careers. Set against $24,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Florida Online came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Students borrow a median of $24,757 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $40,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,757 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #3 place for geological & earth sciences. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $20,212. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Florida International University one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $19,349. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #5 place for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,002 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $48,565. Set against $24,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Florida State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. That is a strong return on a $20,488 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Miami placed #7 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $57,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
