2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences students.
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2026 Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Geological & Earth Sciences/Geosciences Schools
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #1 spot for value among other geological & earth sciences/geosciences schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates is $28,000. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $34,481. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other geological & earth sciences/geosciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete the other geological & earth sciences/geosciences program here. Early-career other geological & earth sciences/geosciences graduates make about $57,375. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #3 place for other geological & earth sciences/geosciences. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Other Geological & Earth Sciences/geosciences graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
