2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Georgia
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 Columbus State University, our #1 best value for geological & earth sciences in Georgia. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $28,493. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $51,154. That is a strong return on a $28,493 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $24,323. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia State University earned it the #4 place for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $46,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 55% 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 · 10 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.
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
