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2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

11 Ranked Colleges
145 Degrees Awarded
$13,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Geography is the 144th most popular major in the country with 5,476 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 182 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 145 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in geography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geography programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $3,995 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $2,800 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Chicago.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Geography at UChicago

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 9 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,464 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Geography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $9,938 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SIUE Geography Report

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, EIU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $11,316 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geography at Eastern Illinois University

#6

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $14,999 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Geography Report

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 13 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,861 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend NIU.

Read full report on Geography at NIU

#10 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 8 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $15,513 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Read more about Geography at Northeastern Illinois University

#9

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 2 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,837 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography at Elmhurst University

#10

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana is $16,249 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at Augustana College

#11

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, DePaul has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $25,842 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Geography Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Couleur.

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