2023 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Geological & Earth Sciences School for You
Geological & Earth Sciences is the #96 most popular major in the country with 7,821 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 34 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for geology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured Geology Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Gain the analytical, technical and science communications skills you need to begin your career with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
BS in Geosciences - Natural Resources Conservation
Learn to manage and conserve our natural resources with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 10 Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - River Falls the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for geological and earth sciences students. Located in the distant town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year.
UW - River Falls also claimed a spot on our Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Request Information
The excellent programs at Illinois State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best geological and earth sciences schools in the Great Lakes Region . Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Illinois State are $24,172 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Illinois State also did well on our Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Geological & Earth Sciences at Illinois State University Report
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Akron Main Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the midsize city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 per year. While working on their degree, geology majors at University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of around $22,000 in student debt.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year.
Request Information
Out of the 34 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UW - Eau Claire undergraduate students pay an average of $17,149 in tuition and fees each year. Geology majors at UW - Eau Claire take out an average of $19,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Eau Claire also is in the top 10% of our Best Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Request Information
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value geological and earth sciences programs. UW - Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point.
UW - Stevens Point undergraduate students pay an average of $17,035 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Request Information
Eastern Michigan University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value geological and earth sciences programs. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti.
Eastern Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $15,500 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Geological & Earth Sciences at Northern Illinois University
Request Information
With a ranking of #9, Grand Valley State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for geological and earth sciences students. Located in the large suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GVSU are $19,628 a year. Geology majors at GVSU take out an average of $29,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request Information
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value geological and earth sciences programs. Located in the suburb of Kenosha, UW - Parkside is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Parkside are $15,714 per year. The average amount in student loans that geology majors at UW - Parkside take out is $26,700.
Request InformationBest Geological & Earth Sciences Colleges by State
Explore the best geological and earth sciences colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 211 |
| Ohio | 237 |
| Illinois | 140 |
| Indiana | 98 |
| Wisconsin | 130 |
More Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Geology
One of 8 majors within the area of study, geological and earth sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Geology
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 21,239 |
| Physics | 13,674 |
| General Physical Sciences | 3,823 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 1,375 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 1,140 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Kelvinsong.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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.