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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

22 Colleges in the United States
514 Geology & Earth Sciences Degrees Awarded
$42,151 Avg Early-Career Salary

Geology & Earth Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 81 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for geology & earth sciences students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Geology & Earth Sciences in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geology & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Geology & Earth Sciences

1

Leading the list is Indiana University Bloomington, our #1 school for geology & earth sciences. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete this degree. Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Indiana University Bloomington

2

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best geology & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 26 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $43,068 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full geology & earth sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for geology & earth sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 72 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $45,974 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,875. Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

4

Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geology & earth sciences, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $49,660 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete this degree. Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Illinois State University

5
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geology & earth sciences, ranking #5. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $39,692. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at Purdue University Main Campus

6

Ohio University Main Campus placed #6 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 50 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $38,637 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Ohio University Main Campus

7

Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #7 for geology & earth sciences this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 35 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

8

Miami University Oxford placed #8 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 33 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $38,478. Typical student debt for the program is $20,862. See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Miami University Oxford

9

Western Michigan University came in at #9 for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 12 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Western Michigan University earn around $48,966 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete this degree. See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Western Michigan University

10

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #10 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $38,867 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full geology & earth sciences program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

11

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #11 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $44,207 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

12
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #12 position for geology & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $39,997 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $29,869 in student loans. More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from Michigan State University

13

University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #13 spot for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 35 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $37,280 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full geology & earth sciences details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

14

Grand Valley State University earned the #14 position for geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Grand Valley State University awarded about 11 geology & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $38,675 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,750. Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Grand Valley State University

15

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #15 position for geology & earth sciences this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 21 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $42,932 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in geology & earth sciences from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

16

University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #16 for geology & earth sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. About 18 geology & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $39,678 in their early career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the geology & earth sciences program at University Of Akron Main Campus

17

Kent State University At Kent came in at #17 for geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geology & earth sciences degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $40,005 in the first couple years of their career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full geology & earth sciences program report for Kent State University At Kent

18

Wright State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best geology & earth sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. There were roughly 14 geology & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geology & earth sciences program make about $39,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree. Get the full geology & earth sciences details for Wright State University Main Campus

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 81 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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