2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the New England Region

[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the New England Region
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
Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 best value for geology & earth sciences in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Bowdoin College one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $58,938. Set against $20,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowdoin College admits about 7% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Connecticut one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $23,637. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $58,784. Set against $23,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,202, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $26,368. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $52,064 early in their careers. Set against $26,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $53,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Brown University landed the #6 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Yale University placed #7 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $14,357. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Dartmouth College placed #8 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $16,989. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Set against $16,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.