2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Illinois
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geology & earth sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geology & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $37,280. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $38,867. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $21,896. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
