[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.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value geographic information science schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geographic information science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in geographic information science, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Geographic Information Science graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Suny At Albany is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geographic information science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
University At Buffalo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geographic information science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $24,255. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $29,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Binghamton earned it the #4 place for geographic information science. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,596 in student loans. Geographic Information Science graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $40,434 early in their careers. Set against $20,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
