2026 Best Value Geoscience Engineering Schools
Looking for the best-value Geoscience Engineering programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 23 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 23 Best-Value Geoscience Engineering Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of North Dakota this year in the United States. University Of North Dakota is a public school based in Grand Forks, ND. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $25,110. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,552. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
You'll get strong value at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Rapid City, SD, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,500, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $26,668. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,257. That is a strong return on a $26,668 median debt. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology admits about 80% of applicants. Get the full South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology report
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #3 on this year's best-value Geoscience Engineering ranking in the United States. Set in Butte, MT, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,289 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. Graduates carry a median of $23,962 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,329. Set against $23,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana has an acceptance rate of 91%. Read more about Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Michigan Technological University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Geoscience Engineering ranking in the United States. Set in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $22,849. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%. Read the full report on Michigan Technological University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,792. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Colorado School Of Mines offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $97,335 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #7 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. Students from in state pay about $14,984 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Missouri University Of Science And Technology Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $20,500 in debt. Median earnings reach $82,957 ten years out. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri University Of Science And Technology has an acceptance rate of 72%. Get the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology report
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $21,275. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $75,121. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 27% of those who apply are admitted. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $21,577 in debt. Median earnings reach $69,020 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public school based in University, MS. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $23,970. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,994 ten years after entry. Set against $23,970 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%. Get the full University Of Mississippi Main Campus report
University Of Utah ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $20,798. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%. Get the full University Of Utah report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, compared with $25,892 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,439 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. University Of Alaska Fairbanks alumni report median earnings of $48,866 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt. Read more about University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. University Of California Los Angeles Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $16,097 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,511 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of California Los Angeles report
University Of Idaho landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Moscow, ID, University Of Idaho is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $23,844. University Of Idaho alumni report median earnings of $54,670 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. About 76% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Idaho profile
University Of Nevada Reno offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Reno, NV, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,918 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,614 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants. Get the full University Of Nevada Reno report
University Of Rochester offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $21,517. University Of Rochester alumni report median earnings of $79,042 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Rochester report
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Arizona offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Rutgers University Newark ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. See the full Rutgers University Newark profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #23 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Best Value Geoscience Engineering Schools by Degree Level
See the best values at each degree level:
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 23 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).