2026 Best Value Geoscience Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Geoscience Engineering bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 23 institutions 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of North Dakota this year in the United States. Located in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. University Of North Dakota alumni report median earnings of $63,552 a decade after entry. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of North Dakota
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #2 on this year's best-value Geoscience Engineering ranking in the United States. Based in Rapid City, SD, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,668 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology alumni report median earnings of $72,257 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology admits about 80% of applicants. Get the full South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology report
You'll get strong value at Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Butte, MT, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $23,962. Median earnings reach $54,329 ten years out. 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%. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
Out of the 23 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Colorado School Of Mines landed the #4 spot. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school based in Golden, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Colorado School Of Mines alumni report median earnings of $97,335 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Colorado School Of Mines has an acceptance rate of 61%. Read more about Colorado School Of Mines
Out of the 23 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #5 spot. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,792 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $75,121. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin has an acceptance rate of 27%. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Based in University, MS, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $23,970 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,994. That is a strong return on a $23,970 median debt. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Mississippi Main Campus profile
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $20,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,957 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants. Get the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $69,020 ten years out. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities has an acceptance rate of 80%. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Michigan Technological University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Set in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $22,849 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Michigan Technological University
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Based in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. University Of Alaska Fairbanks Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $23,439 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,866. Set against $23,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of Utah ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $20,798. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,170. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah has an acceptance rate of 86%. Read more about University Of Utah
University Of California Los Angeles offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $16,097. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,511. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. About 9% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Reno, NV. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $19,918. University Of Nevada Reno alumni report median earnings of $60,614 a decade after entry. Set against $19,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%. Read more about University Of Nevada Reno
University Of Rochester landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $79,042 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Rochester
University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Arizona offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full University Of Arizona report
University Of Idaho placed #18 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Idaho
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Delaware Technical Community College Terry profile
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Rutgers University Newark landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rutgers University Newark profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
Related Geoscience Engineering Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- 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 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).