2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Oregon
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geological & earth sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geological & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Portland State University earned the #1 spot for value among geological & earth sciences schools in Oregon. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $24,125. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $37,831. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oregon State University earned it the #2 place for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,000. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $39,450 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at University Of Oregon, which ranked #3. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $29,145. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,145 median debt. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
More Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings
View All Geological & Earth Sciences Rankings >
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 · 7 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.
