2027 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography students.
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2027 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. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $42,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Charlotte one of the best values for geography. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. 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. That is a strong return on a $23,954 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $20,868. Geography graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $55,320 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,868 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.