2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Michigan

[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geological & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Michigan
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
For return on investment in geological & earth sciences, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $17,875. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $45,974. Set against $17,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Grand Valley State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $38,675 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Western Michigan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,966. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #5. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,869 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $39,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.