Geographic Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geographic information science programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 327 schools to find the best for geographic information science students.
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Below are the best geographic information science schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Our analysis ranked University Of Pennsylvania the best school in the country for a degree in geographic information science. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 20 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best geographic information science schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 13 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
See the full geographic information science program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for geographic information science. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 29 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $74,365 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geographic information science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 39 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $61,063 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in geographic information science from University Of Southern California
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for geographic information science. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 17 geographic information science degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $36,776 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,969.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #6 position for geographic information science this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 10 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #7 for geographic information science this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 10 geographic information science degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $75,503 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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George Washington University landed the #8 spot for geographic information science this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 10 geographic information science students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $52,883. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #9 for geographic information science this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 41 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $40,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,441.
See the full geographic information science program report for University Of Maryland College Park
California State University Long Beach earned the #10 position for geographic information science this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 geographic information science degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their geographic information science degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $73,531 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the geographic information science program at California State University Long Beach
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #11 spot for geographic information science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 11 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geographic information science degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $38,019 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best geographic information science schools. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 29 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of Utah placed #13 among the best geographic information science schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 geographic information science degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Students who receive their geographic information science degree from University Of Utah earn around $41,052 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,373.
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University Of Denver placed #14 among the best geographic information science schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 geographic information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $58,047 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
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Northern Arizona University earned the #15 position for geographic information science this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 geographic information science students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete this degree.
See the full geographic information science program report for Northern Arizona University
University Of Maryland Baltimore County placed #16 among the best geographic information science schools. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland Baltimore County awarded about 13 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. Typical student debt for the program is $21,331.
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University Of Georgia ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best geographic information science schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 geographic information science degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their geographic information science degree from University Of Georgia earn around $26,801 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,133 in student loans.
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Clark University landed the #18 spot for geographic information science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Clark University awarded about 19 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geographic information science degree from Clark University earn around $55,202 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
See the full geographic information science program report for Clark University
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #19 position for geographic information science this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 geographic information science students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $42,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete this degree.
See the full geographic information science program report for Northwest Missouri State University
The University Of West Florida placed #20 among the best geographic information science schools. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 24 geographic information science degrees were awarded at The University Of West Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $47,141 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geographic information science from The University Of West Florida
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #21 position for geographic information science this year. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 11 geographic information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $67,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,151 to complete this degree.
See the full geographic information science program report for University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Arizona State University placed #22 among the best geographic information science schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 geographic information science degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Geographic Information Science graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,326 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,096 to complete this degree.
See the full geographic information science program report for Arizona State University
Unity College earned the #23 position for geographic information science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of New Gloucester. Unity College graduates 29% of students within six years. About 25 geographic information science degrees were awarded at Unity College in the most recent year. Graduates of the geographic information science program make about $36,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,083.
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University Of Arizona placed #24 among the best geographic information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 36 geographic information science degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $56,801. Typical student debt for the program is $28,250.
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Western Illinois University placed #25 among the best geographic information science schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 12 geographic information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s geographic information science ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Geographic Information Science rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 327 schools evaluated.
- 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.