2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Georgia

[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geology & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Georgia
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
Our analysis ranked Columbus State University the best value for a degree in geology & earth sciences in Georgia. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,493 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. Set against $28,493 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Georgia State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $46,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
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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 · 9 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.