Geography is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 84 schools to find the best for geography students.
The geography program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Geography Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Geography School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Geography Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in geography. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 103 geography degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $43,856 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,600.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Florida
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for geography. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 32 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $37,398 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 56 geography degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $36,776 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,969.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for geography. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 28 geography students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $54,204 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,479 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for Texas A And M University College Station
A rank of #5 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for geography. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 geography students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $52,883 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full geography program report for George Washington University
California State University Sacramento placed #6 among the best geography schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 28 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $48,227 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for California State University Sacramento
San Diego State University landed the #7 spot for geography this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 39 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $38,648. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for San Diego State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 geography degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $39,328 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #9 spot for geography this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 28 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $42,454 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
Read more about the geography program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
James Madison University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 64 geography students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $45,094. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for James Madison University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #11 for geography this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 30 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Denver earned the #12 position for geography this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $58,717 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Denver
George Mason University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 23 geography degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from George Mason University earn around $49,568 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at George Mason University
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #14 for geography this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 29 geography students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Brigham Young University Provo earn around $40,051 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,360 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from Brigham Young University Provo
Sonoma State University came in at #15 for geography this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 geography students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Sonoma State University earn around $40,614 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at Sonoma State University
Syracuse University came in at #16 for geography this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 geography degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Geography graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for Syracuse University
California State University Northridge earned the #17 position for geography this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 geography degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $27,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250.
See the full geography program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Long Beach came in at #18 for geography this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $52,865 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for California State University Long Beach
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #19 position for geography this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 geography students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $36,878 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
Read more about the geography program at The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #20 among the best geography schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 34 geography degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $38,726 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #21 for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 25 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $38,019. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Illinois State University earned the #22 position for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 31 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $34,952 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for Illinois State University
California State University Chico landed the #23 spot for geography this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $40,380. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from California State University Chico
Michigan State University landed the #24 spot for geography this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 11 geography students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from Michigan State University
Rowan University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 31 geography degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $44,380 in their early career. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from Rowan University
Rest of the Top 50 Geography Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong geography education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 84 schools evaluated.
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).
