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2026 Best Value Geography Schools in North Carolina

5 Colleges in the United States
$20,108 Avg Student Debt
$59,649 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Geography Badge [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

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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%.

5

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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