2026 Best Value Geoscience Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Geoscience Engineering master’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. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is University Of North Dakota, our #1 best-value Geoscience Engineering school in the United States. University Of North Dakota is a public school based in Grand Forks, ND. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $63,552 ten years out. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
You'll get strong value at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Madison, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $73,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison has an acceptance rate of 45%. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Rapid City, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. The median Geoscience Engineering program debt is $26,668. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology alumni report median earnings of $72,257 a decade after entry. Set against $26,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted. More on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
A rank of #4 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values in the United States. Located in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,849 in student loans. Michigan Technological University alumni report median earnings of $78,198 a decade after entry. Set against $22,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
You'll get strong value at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,957. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. About 72% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $69,020. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Colorado School Of Mines placed #7 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Colorado School Of Mines Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $97,335 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 61% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Colorado School Of Mines profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,866 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of Utah landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete their Geoscience Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $67,170. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%. More on University Of Utah
University Of Idaho landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Idaho is a public school based in Moscow, ID. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. University Of Idaho Geoscience Engineering students take on a median of $23,844 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants. See the full University Of Idaho profile
University Of Nevada Reno placed #11 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Reno, NV, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical Geoscience Engineering student debt is $19,918. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,614. Set against $19,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Reno has an acceptance rate of 74%. More on University Of Nevada Reno
University Of Mississippi Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. See the full University Of Mississippi Main Campus profile
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Pennsylvania report
University Of Arizona ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. Get the full University Of Arizona report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #16 among the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Rutgers University Newark ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. See the full Rutgers University Newark profile
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Delaware Technical Community College Terry profile
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on New Mexico State University Main Campus
University Of California Los Angeles offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Rochester offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full University Of Rochester profile
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geoscience Engineering schools. See the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus profile
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geoscience Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · 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).