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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Massachusetts

[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geological & earth sciences education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for geological & earth sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Massachusetts

2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Massachusetts

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

1

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Cambridge, MA

$62,396 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,516 Avg Student Debt

$143,372 Median Earnings (10yr)

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot for value among geological & earth sciences schools in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.

2

University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA

$17,772 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,234 Avg Student Debt

$71,631 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $25,234. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $53,543. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.

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 · 18 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.