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

7 Colleges in the United States
126 Geological & Earth Sciences Degrees Awarded
$47,352 Avg Early-Career Salary

Geological & Earth Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geological & earth sciences programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools to find the best for geological & earth sciences students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Geological & Earth Sciences in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall geological & earth sciences education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in Geological & Earth Sciences

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for geological & earth sciences. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 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. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Read more about the geological & earth sciences program at Vanderbilt University

2

East Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 geological & earth sciences students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $45,444 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,301. Get the full geological & earth sciences details for East Tennessee State University

3

Students looking for a strong geological & earth sciences program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 23 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Graduates of the geological & earth sciences program make about $30,101 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in geological & earth sciences from The University Of Tennessee

4

University Of Memphis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 22 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Get the full geological & earth sciences details for University Of Memphis

5

Students looking for a strong geological & earth sciences program will find one at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 geological & earth sciences degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geological & earth sciences degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $34,329 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,256 to complete this degree. Get the full geological & earth sciences details for Middle Tennessee State University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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