[Geographic Information Science](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geographic-information-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geographic information science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geographic information science students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geographic information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in geographic information science, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for geographic information science. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $24,441. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $40,913. Set against $24,441 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geographic information science, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $21,331 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Albany earned it the #4 place for geographic information science. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $44,736. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned it the #5 place for geographic information science. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $26,062. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $73,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo placed #6 among the best values for geographic information science. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,255 to complete the geographic information science program here. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $29,390. That is a strong return on a $24,255 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Binghamton placed #7 among the best values for geographic information science. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,596 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $40,434. Set against $20,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in geographic information science this year. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Students borrow a median of $26,867 to complete the geographic information science program here. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $39,028. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Rowan University came in at #9 for value in geographic information science this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $25,250. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $44,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #10 position for value in geographic information science this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value geographic information science schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of Temple University earn a median of $48,154 early in their careers. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #12 among the best values for geographic information science. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $40,962. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for geographic information science. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,396 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $67,164. That is a strong return on a $23,396 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
George Washington University came in at #14 for value in geographic information science this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the geographic information science program here. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $52,883. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
