2027 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Geography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography students.
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2027 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geography Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #1 spot for value among geography schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value geography schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $47,926. That is a strong return on a $27,639 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $23,983. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $40,051. Set against $23,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for geography. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $41,256. That is a strong return on a $24,161 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value geography schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $25,836. Geography graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #6 spot for geography value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $17,425. Geography graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $41,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University came in at #7 for value in geography this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $21,875. Geography graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $36,367 early in their careers. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #8 position for value in geography this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $21,212. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,048. That is a strong return on a $21,212 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #9 for value in geography this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $58,681. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Illinois State University placed #10 among the best values for geography. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Geography graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Geography graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $34,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #11 for value in geography this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #12 for value in geography this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $25,174. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $42,015. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Calvin College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value geography schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,350. Geography graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $44,220. Set against $22,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #14 position for value in geography this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Depaul University landed the #15 spot for geography value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $23,412 to complete the geography program here. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $47,464. Set against $23,412 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
