Cheapest Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee's affordable Geological and Earth Sciences programs show remarkable cost variation, with The University of Tennessee-Martin offering the lowest net price at $10,299 while Vanderbilt reaches $19,040 for similar outcomes. Middle Tennessee State University graduates earn the highest median salary at $44,971, nearly double the earnings at University of Memphis despite similar program costs. The state's growing automotive manufacturing sector and emerging renewable energy projects create demand for geoscientists who understand subsurface conditions and environmental impact assessment. Tennessee's lack of state income tax means graduates keep more of their starting salaries, which range from $24,035 to $44,971 across these ten programs.

Programs

$10,299 – $27,498

Net Price Range

$32,388

Avg. Program Earnings

60.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tennessee	$10,299	$10,208	54.8%	88.4%
2	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$12,599	$9,506	54.0%	72.5%
3	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
4	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
5	Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, Tennessee	$14,207	$10,084	54.2%	78.1%
6	Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee	$14,846	$8,675	44.5%	93.8%
7	East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee	$15,794	$9,950	49.9%	85.3%
8	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
9	Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	$19,040	$63,946	92.7%	6.7%
10	The University of the South Sewanee, Tennessee	$27,498	$53,698	82.4%	52.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $30,000 earnings gap between Middle Tennessee State and University of Memphis graduates?

Middle Tennessee State graduates earn $44,971 compared to $24,035 at Memphis, despite similar net costs around $12,000-$13,000. The location advantage plays a role, as Murfreesboro sits between Nashville's corporate headquarters and growing industrial corridors.

How do Tennessee's public geology programs compare in graduation rates?

UT-Knoxville leads public programs with a 73.5% graduation rate, followed by UT-Martin at 54.8% and Tennessee Tech at 54.2%. The $8,000 higher net cost at UT-Knoxville appears to correlate with better completion rates across geological sciences programs.

Is Vanderbilt University worth the premium for earth sciences?

Vanderbilt's $19,040 net price delivers a 92.7% graduation rate, the highest among Tennessee programs. However, earnings data isn't available, making cost-benefit analysis difficult compared to public alternatives like Tennessee Tech with similar geological research opportunities.

Where do Tennessee geology graduates find the best job prospects?

The state's automotive manufacturing in Middle Tennessee and emerging lithium extraction projects in the eastern counties create regional demand. Tennessee's exemption from state income tax means a $35,000 starting salary stretches further than equivalent positions in neighboring states.

More Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Rankings

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All Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Programs Best Colleges in Tennessee Best Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences in Tennessee

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.