2026 Best Geological And Earth Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Geological And Earth Sciences graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 597 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Geological And Earth Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Western Michigan University, our #1 Geological And Earth Sciences school in the United States. This public school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Typical Geological And Earth Sciences student debt is $27,981. Read more about Western Michigan University
Out of the 597 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Illinois State University landed the #2 spot. Based in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Illinois State University Geological And Earth Sciences students take on a median of $21,896 in debt. See the full Illinois State University profile
A rank of #3 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Golden, CO. About 82% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical Geological And Earth Sciences student debt is $24,521. More on Colorado School Of Mines
The strong Geological And Earth Sciences programs at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. The University Of Texas At San Antonio Geological And Earth Sciences students take on a median of $18,969 in debt. More on The University Of Texas At San Antonio
University Of Iowa came in at #5 on this year's Geological And Earth Sciences ranking in the United States. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. University Of Iowa Geological And Earth Sciences students take on a median of $24,463 in debt. More on University Of Iowa
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Based in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
University Of Arizona did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. University Of Arizona posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. University Of Arizona Geological And Earth Sciences students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Get the full University Of Arizona report
East Carolina University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical Geological And Earth Sciences student debt is $20,500. See the full East Carolina University profile
Missouri State University Springfield did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Springfield, MO. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. The median Geological And Earth Sciences program debt is $28,000. See the full Missouri State University Springfield profile
University Of Utah ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. This public school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Utah
University Of Rhode Island did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
University Of Kansas came in at #12 in this year's ranking. University Of Kansas is a public school based in Lawrence, KS. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Geological And Earth Sciences program here. Get the full University Of Kansas report
Montana State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Based in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. Montana State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. The median Geological And Earth Sciences program debt is $22,250. More on Montana State University
Stony Brook University placed #14 among Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. This public school is set in Stony Brook, NY. Stony Brook University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Stony Brook University Geological And Earth Sciences students take on a median of $20,537 in debt. Read more about Stony Brook University
Portland State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Portland, OR. Portland State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical Geological And Earth Sciences student debt is $24,125. Read more about Portland State University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. This public school is set in Durham, NH. About 76% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $26,368 to complete their Geological And Earth Sciences program here. See the full University Of New Hampshire Main Campus profile
University Of New Orleans landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Located in New Orleans, LA, University Of New Orleans is a public institution. University Of New Orleans posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, while out-of-state students pay about $14,008. The median Geological And Earth Sciences program debt is $23,048. See the full University Of New Orleans profile
California State University Bakersfield ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. More on California State University Bakersfield
Centenary College Of Louisiana ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read more about Centenary College Of Louisiana
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
Mount Holyoke College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Mount Holyoke College report
Columbus State University placed #23 among Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Columbus State University
Del Mar College
Del Mar College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Del Mar College report
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #25 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Missouri Columbia profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Geological And Earth Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full Wright State University Main Campus profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Sewanee The University Of The South ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Get the full Sewanee The University Of The South report
Southern Methodist University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read more about Southern Methodist University
Union College New York landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Union College New York
Lynchburg College landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Lynchburg College report
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Texas Christian University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Texas Christian University
Salish Kootenai College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Get the full Salish Kootenai College report
San Diego Mesa College placed #35 among Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. See the full San Diego Mesa College profile
Shawnee State University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. More on Shawnee State University
City College Of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on City College Of San Francisco
Ohio University Eastern Campus came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Ohio University Eastern Campus
Pitzer College
Pitzer College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. See the full Pitzer College profile
University Of Oregon landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Oregon report
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown placed #41 among Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown
Emporia State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Emporia State University report
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Get the full Pennsylvania Western University report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #44 among Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Wilkes University did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Wilkes University
Frostburg State University did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Frostburg State University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Cornell College
Cornell College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Cornell College
Cuny Hunter College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read the full report on Cuny Hunter College
Related Geological And Earth Sciences Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Geological And Earth Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 597 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).