2026 Best Value Geography Schools in North Carolina

[Geography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geography/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geography education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography students.
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2026 Best Value Geography Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geography Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in geography in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $15,117. Geography graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $42,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Geography graduates carry a median of $22,851 in student loans. Geography graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $25,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,851 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $23,954 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $42,210. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Appalachian State University earned it the #4 place for geography. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $41,648. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in geography will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $20,868 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $55,320. That is a strong return on a $20,868 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.