2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Mississippi

[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 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 Mississippi
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern Mississippi the best value for a degree in geology & earth sciences in Mississippi. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
Mississippi State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Students borrow a median of $26,286 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $53,101. That is a strong return on a $26,286 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.