2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Texas
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools to find the best return on investment for geological & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Texas
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 The University Of Texas At San Antonio the best value for a degree in geological & earth sciences in Texas. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $18,969. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $42,779. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $89,896. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Houston Downtown one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,582 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,434. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $50,894. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $42,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,759 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $65,546. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #6 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,487 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $42,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,487 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas Tech University landed the #7 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $49,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #8 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $20,837. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $57,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
