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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California

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Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 8,124 people earned their degree in geological & earth sciences, making the major the 95th most popular in the United States. In , geological & earth sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $38,869 and had an average of $22,278 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 981 geological & earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,206 and $17,549 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking looked at 104 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geological & earth sciences. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geological & earth sciences.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in California

1

Out of the 104 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.

Full Caltech Geological & Earth Sciences Report

2
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 98 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stanford

3
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Occidental College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Oxy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Oxy

4
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Out of the 104 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Humboldt State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 26 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Humboldt State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 53 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UC Santa Cruz

6
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

Pitzer College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Pitzer College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Pitzer Geological & Earth Sciences Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 59 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UCSB

8

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 23 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

9

University of California - Merced came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 12 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Merced Geological & Earth Sciences Report

10

University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 87 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of California - San Diego Geological & Earth Sciences Report

11
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 13 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SSU

12

University of California - Irvine came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 62 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UC Irvine Geological & Earth Sciences Report

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 18 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Bakersfield Geological & Earth Sciences Report

14

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. California State University - Stanislaus is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Stan State

15

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of California - Riverside

16

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 21 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona

17

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 19 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Fresno

18

University of California - Davis landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 31 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UC Davis

19

University of California - Berkeley came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 32 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Berkeley Geological & Earth Sciences Report

20
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Scripps is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 0 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Scripps College

21

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUDH Geological & Earth Sciences Report

22
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #22, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 27 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SDSU Geological & Earth Sciences Report

23

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State LA Geological & Earth Sciences Report

24
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. Pomona College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Pomona

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in California list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at California State University - Chico

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