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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee

7 Colleges in the United States
$23,769 Avg Student Debt
$58,734 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Badge [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 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geological & earth sciences schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in Tennessee

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

Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $31,256 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,329 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.

2

Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at University Of Memphis, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.

3

East Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Students borrow a median of $21,301 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $45,444. Set against $21,301 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

4

Students looking for strong value in geological & earth sciences will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #4. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $30,101. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

5
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #5 place for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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