2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in Kansas
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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 Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Fort Hays State University tops our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools in Kansas. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $23,875. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $43,421. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 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 Kansas generally make around $41,626. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #3 place for geology & earth sciences. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
