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Mineralogist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a mineralogist. Mineralogists usually study geology, mathematics, or ceramic sciences and engineering. 77% of mineralogists hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 24 real mineralogist resumes to see exactly what mineralogist education sections show.

The most common colleges for mineralogists are the Kean University and the Kean University.

There are also many online mineralogist courses to help get the education required to be a mineralogist.

What education do you need to become a mineralogist?

What degree do you need to be a mineralogist?

  • Bachelor's, 77%
  • Master's, 23%

What should I major in to become a mineralogist?

You should major in geology to become a mineralogist. 79% of mineralogists major in geology. Other common majors for a mineralogist include mathematics and ceramic sciences and engineering.

Most common colleges for mineralogists

Mineralogists often get their degrees at Kean University, Alfred University, and Brigham Young University. Here are the most common colleges for mineralogists in the US based on their resumes.
Mineralogist common collegePercentages
Kean University8.33%
Alfred University8.33%
Brigham Young University8.33%
University of Nevada - Las Vegas8.33%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro8.33%

Best majors for mineralogists

RankMajorPercentages
1Geology78.6%
2Mathematics7.1%
3Ceramic Sciences And Engineering7.1%
4Mechanical Engineering7.1%

Best colleges for mineralogists

The best colleges for mineralogists are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.

A mineralogist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for mineralogists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become mineralogists.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

4. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$15,887

Enrollment

23,202

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

7. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for mineralogists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for mineralogists

The most affordable schools for mineralogists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and minot state university.

If the best universities for mineralogists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for mineralogists.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

4. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

5. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for mineralogists

The hardest universities for mineralogists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for mineralogists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for mineralogists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,449

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,465

8. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

10. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for mineralogists

The easiest schools for mineralogists to get into are Wayland Baptist University, kean university, and san francisco state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a mineralogist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for mineralogists.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

3. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

4. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

5. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

6. Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Lock Haven, PA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

1,020

7. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

8. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,073

9. University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,050

10. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

Average mineralogist salary by education level

Mineralogists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $91,943 annually. With a Master's degree, mineralogists earn a median annual income of $75,654 compared to $58,310 for mineralogists with an Bachelor's degree.
Mineralogist education levelMineralogist salary
Master's Degree$75,654
Bachelor's Degree$58,310
Doctorate Degree$91,943

Mineralogist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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