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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southwest Region

68 Ranked Colleges
$28,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region” 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 the Southwest region, there were 954 geological & earth sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,993 and $24,018 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 68 colleges that offer a degree 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 the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geological & Earth Sciences in the Southwest Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Socorro, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

2
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Out of the 68 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Tulsa landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 University of Tulsa Geological & Earth Sciences Report

3
Trinity U crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas

Out of the 68 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Trinity University landed the #3 spot on the list. Trinity U is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 Trinity University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

4
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geology degrees to 14 students 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. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Rice University

5
MSU Texas crest
MSU Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend MSU Texas. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Wichita Falls, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 15 students 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 MSU Texas

6

Sul Ross State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Alpine, Texas, this small public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Sul Ross

7
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 72 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UH

8
Mesalands Community College crest
Mesalands Community College
Tucumcari, New Mexico

With a ranking of #8, Mesalands Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Mesalands Community College is located in Tucumcari, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

Full Mesalands Community College Geological & Earth Sciences Report

9

Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Kingsville, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s geology students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M Kingsville

10

With a ranking of #10, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 138 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Texas A&M University - College Station

11

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Odessa, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

12

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 17 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at SFASU

13

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 36 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

14
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 93 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Arizona Geological & Earth Sciences Report

15

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 8 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Geological & Earth Sciences Report

16

University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 25 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UNM

17
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 33 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Texas Tech University Geological & Earth Sciences Report

18

University of Houston - Downtown ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. UH Downtown is a fairly large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 16 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 more about Geological & Earth Sciences at UH Downtown

19

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. OSU is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 28 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

20

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 17 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Geological & Earth Sciences Report

21

Baylor University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor is a large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 29 ’s geology degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geological & Earth Sciences at Baylor

22
SJC crest
San Juan College
Farmington, New Mexico

San Juan College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking. San Juan College is a public institution located in Farmington, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 San Juan College

23

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geology degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Geological & Earth Sciences Report

24

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Geological & Earth Sciences Report

25

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geology Major in the Southwest Region list. UTEP is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 ’s geology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at UTEP

Notes and References

References

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