2026 Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 597 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 reviewed 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 25 Best-Value Geological And Earth Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Middlesex County College this year in the United States. This public school is set in Edison, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Typical Geological And Earth Sciences student debt is $9,514. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,861. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt. Read the full report on Middlesex County College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Adams State College earned it the #2 place in the United States. More on Adams State College
Out of the 597 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, California State University Los Angeles landed the #3 spot. Read more about California State University Los Angeles
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Geological And Earth Sciences ranking in the United States. Get the full Gustavus Adolphus College report
You'll get strong value at Pomona College, which ranked #5 this year. Get the full Pomona College report
University Of West Georgia came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of West Georgia profile
Central Arizona College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Central Arizona College
James Madison University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about James Madison University
University Of Dayton placed #9 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Dayton
University Of Southern Maine came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Southern Maine report
City College Of San Francisco landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about City College Of San Francisco
East Tennessee State University placed #12 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on East Tennessee State University
Mt San Antonio College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Mt San Antonio College report
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
Wichita State University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Wichita State University
Contra Costa College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Contra Costa College profile
Haverford College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Haverford College profile
Millsaps College
Millsaps College landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Millsaps College
California State University San Bernardino placed #19 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. See the full California State University San Bernardino profile
College Of Western Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about College Of Western Idaho
Marshall University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Marshall University
Wheaton College Illinois placed #22 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Wheaton College Illinois
Mesalands Community College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Mesalands Community College profile
Salt Lake Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Salt Lake Community College
Santa Ana College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Santa Ana College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Geological And Earth Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College report
Monterey Peninsula College placed #27 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. More on Monterey Peninsula College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Suny At Fredonia
Suny At Fredonia offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Suny At Fredonia
University Of Indianapolis placed #30 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Indianapolis profile
The College Of Wooster landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on The College Of Wooster
Crafton Hills College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. More on Crafton Hills College
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Missouri Columbia report
Wayland Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Wayland Baptist University profile
Whitman College
Whitman College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Whitman College report
Georgia State University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Get the full Georgia State University report
Union College New York landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Union College New York report
University Of Florida landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Florida
Duke University
Duke University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Duke University report
Las Positas College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. See the full Las Positas College profile
Purdue University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Suny College At Buffalo placed #43 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Suny College At Buffalo
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Get the full University Of Louisiana Lafayette report
South Plains College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. More on South Plains College
University At Buffalo landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Colby College
Colby College placed #47 among the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Colby College profile
College Of Charleston ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Get the full College Of Charleston report
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Geological And Earth Sciences schools. Read the full report on Eckerd College
Northern Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Northern Michigan University report
Related Geological And Earth Sciences Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Geological And Earth Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.