Geological & Earth Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geological & earth sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 597 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geological & earth sciences schools.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 19 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 36 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 82 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Students looking for a strong geological & earth sciences program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 12 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geological & earth sciences, ranking #5. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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Brown University landed the #6 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Yale University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 11 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #8 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 42 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $38,804 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #9 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 30 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $48,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Bowdoin College placed #10 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 19 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $58,938 early in their careers. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
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University Of Miami landed the #11 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 16 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of Miami earn around $57,234 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #12 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 64 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $79,645 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #13 for geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 23 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $63,833 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #14 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 16 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #15 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 47 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $42,062 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,487.
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University Of California Davis landed the #16 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 10 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $43,462 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,416 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #17 position for geological & earth sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $43,068 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Rhode Island came in at #18 for geological & earth sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. University Of Rhode Island graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $52,821 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 54 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $42,218 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah landed the #20 spot for geological & earth sciences this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of Utah earn around $49,446 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,798.
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Sonoma State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from Sonoma State University earn around $51,140 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,031 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #22 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 52 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $45,974 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,875.
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Texas A And M University College Station placed #23 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 65 geological & earth sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $44,585 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,837 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #24 among the best geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $61,361 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
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Syracuse University earned the #25 position for geological & earth sciences this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong geological & earth sciences education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 597 schools evaluated.
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).
