Several thousand rock, mineral, and fossil specimens are contained within the geological collection. The core collection, originally part of the Norwegian-American Museum, was returned to the college in 1972.

Other notable specimens include the Ellison Orr collection of fossils, rocks, and minerals donated by potter Marguerite Wildenhain, the Wallace Skarshaug fossil collection, the Amel Priest collection donated by the Madison County Historical Society, and specimens donated by former curator Jean Young.