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12 Best Geology Universities in the United States

University of California, Los Angeles tops our list of 12 Geology universities in the United States at #40 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Colorado School of Mines (QS World #501) and The University of Alabama (#216 in United States). Across the whole list there are 15 courses to choose from.

12 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Geology at other levels

By university type

How these universities are ranked

2 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #40 (University of California, Los Angeles) to #501 (Colorado School of Mines); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of California, Los Angeles has the largest research record in this group, with 52,934,262 citations and an h-index of 1,659.

Public, private and where they are

The split is 12 public to 0 private institutions.

What the courses look like

The usual length is 4 years. 93% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Colorado School of Mines offers the widest choice, with 2 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Geology in the United States?

University of California, Los Angeles (QS World #40), Colorado School of Mines (QS World #501) and The University of Alabama (#216 in United States) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer Geology in the United States?

12 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Geology course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years.

When do Geology courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Geology online with a university in the United States?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Geology courses in the United States?

Colorado School of Mines, with 2, ahead of University of Tennessee, Martin (2).

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