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# Best Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the Midwest

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Physical Sciences Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-physical-sciences-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

Regional list from [Top Geology and Earth Sciences Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-geology-and-earth-sciences-programs/)

This page ranks the 33 Geology and Earth Sciences programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $68,201 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $68,201 to $31,848, with a median of $57,203. The gap between the top two programs is $1,279.

Public institutions account for 97% of the list, with 32 schools and a single private nonprofit. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on the page. University of Illinois Chicago posts the lowest average net price, at $10,974.

## The ranked list

33 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $68,201 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
|  | [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) reports [median earnings of $68,201](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 2 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $66,922 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 85%](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/admissions/), [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and shows median earnings of $66,922 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $65,204 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
|  | [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $24,781](/school/iowa-state-university/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, while its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $65,204. |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $63,893 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
|  | [University of Minnesota-Duluth](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/majors/) posts an [average net price of $18,743](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/cost/) and median earnings of $63,893 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $63,838 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
|  | Ranking 5th on this list, [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) reports [median earnings of $63,838](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $62,448 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
|  | [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) sits 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports [median earnings of $62,448](/school/michigan-state-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $61,868 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
|  | [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) [admits 83% of applicants](/school/grand-valley-state-university/admissions/) and lists median earnings of $61,868 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $61,838 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
|  | [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $26,469](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, paired with median earnings of $61,838 four years after completing. |
| 9 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $61,206 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
|  | Holding the lowest average net price on the page at $10,974, [University of Illinois Chicago](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/majors/) shows [median earnings of $61,206](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $60,949 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
|  | The most selective school on the list, [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) [admits 16% of applicants](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/admissions/), and its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates earn a median of $60,949 four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $60,715 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
|  | [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) reports an [average net price of $16,778](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/cost/) and median earnings of $60,715 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $59,558 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
|  | [Miami University-Oxford](/school/miami-university-oxford/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $19,500](/school/miami-university-oxford/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed, while its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $59,558. |
| 13 | Missouri University of Science and Technology · Rolla, MO | $59,252 | $16,298 | $10,912 | 72.6% |
|  | [Missouri University of Science and Technology](/school/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology/majors/) reports [median earnings of $59,252](/school/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $16,298. |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $58,771 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) ranks 14th on this list, with a [median federal debt of $24,250](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed and an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 15 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $58,164 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 85%](/school/western-michigan-university/admissions/), [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) reports median earnings of $58,164 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $57,438 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
|  | [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $57,438](/school/central-michigan-university/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $31,000 among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed. |
| 17 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $57,203 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
|  | [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) [ranks 80th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/wayne-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and carries an average net price of $12,766. |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $56,739 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire](/school/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire/majors/) [admits 82% of applicants](/school/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $56,739 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH | $53,594 | $13,946 | $10,413 | 59.7% |
|  | A [median federal debt of $24,000](/school/university-of-akron-main-campus/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed accompanies [University of Akron Main Campus](/school/university-of-akron-main-campus/majors/)'s 19th position on this list. |
| 20 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $53,381 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,381](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $4,885 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 21 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $53,272 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
|  | [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/majors/) [ranks 137th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/illinois-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a median federal debt of $20,482 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 22 | Wright State University-Main Campus · Dayton, OH | $50,824 | $15,415 | $11,952 | 96.3% |
|  | [Wright State University-Main Campus](/school/wright-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/wright-state-university-main-campus/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $50,824 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $48,191 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
|  | [Missouri State University-Springfield](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/majors/) ranks 23rd on this list, with a [median federal debt of $24,984](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/cost/) among Geology and Earth Sciences completers who borrowed and an average net price of $17,613. |
| 24 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology · Rapid City, SD | $48,069 | $20,183 | $15,348 | 79.9% |
|  | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology reports median earnings of $48,069 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $15,348 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside · Kenosha, WI | $47,123 | $11,772 | $7,425 | 75.4% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Parkside](/school/university-of-wisconsin-parkside/majors/) reports [median earnings of $47,123](/school/university-of-wisconsin-parkside/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, with 5 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 26 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $46,986 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [University of Northern Iowa](/school/university-of-northern-iowa/majors/) left with a [median of $19,691](/school/university-of-northern-iowa/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school admits 93% of applicants. |
| 27 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $46,171 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
|  | [Kent State University at Kent](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/majors/) [ranks 415th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $20,787. |
| 28 | Winona State University · Winona, MN | $43,426 | $17,503 | $10,224 | 75.5% |
|  | [Winona State University](/school/winona-state-university/majors/) ranks 28th on this list and posts an [average net price of $10,224](/school/winona-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | Augustana College · Rock Island, IL | $41,025 | $22,736 | $15,787 | 62.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Rock Island, [Augustana College](/school/augustana-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $41,025](/school/augustana-college/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $40,188 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
|  | [Northern Illinois University](/school/northern-illinois-university/majors/) shows an [admission rate of 70%](/school/northern-illinois-university/admissions/) and an average net price of $13,391. |
| 31 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $33,993 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
|  | [Eastern Michigan University](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) [ranks 319th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/eastern-michigan-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $33,993 for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | Wichita State University · Wichita, KS | $31,974 | $13,194 | $9,734 | 94.0% |
|  | [Wichita State University](/school/wichita-state-university/majors/) reports 9 graduates in the earnings cohort and an [average net price of $9,734](/school/wichita-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 33 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $31,848 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
|  | [University of Missouri-Columbia](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/) ranks 33rd on this list, with [median earnings of $31,848](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/outcomes/) for its Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Geology and Earth Sciences graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The median captures federally aided completers of a Geology and Earth Sciences program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 6 of the 33 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Ohio University-Main Campus is $1,279, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $36,353.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Physical Sciences Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-physical-sciences-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility