2027 Best Geography Schools in the Southeast Region
Geography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools to find the best for geography students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Geography in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Geography
University Of Florida tops our 2027 ranking of the best geography schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 103 geography degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Florida earn around $43,856 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $18,600 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at University Of Florida
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography, ranking #2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 40 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $39,328 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 28 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $42,454 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 geography students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from James Madison University
A rank of #5 makes George Mason University one of the top schools for geography. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 23 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
See the full geography program report for George Mason University
University Of Georgia landed the #6 spot for geography this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 geography degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Georgia earn around $26,801 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,133 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for University Of Georgia
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #7 position for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $39,259 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #8 position for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. About 35 geography degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $46,929 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Mary Washington earned the #9 position for geography this year. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 16 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $43,243 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at University Of Mary Washington
University Of North Georgia landed the #10 spot for geography this year. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 16 geography degrees were awarded at University Of North Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $43,714. University Of North Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,439 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for University Of North Georgia
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 geography degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $42,210 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $23,954 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Georgia State University landed the #12 spot for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Georgia State University awarded about 18 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $51,103 early in their careers. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for Georgia State University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #13 position for geography this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 16 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Liberty University placed #14 among the best geography schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. Liberty University awarded about 20 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $45,877 in their early career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for Liberty University
The University Of Tennessee earned the #15 position for geography this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 35 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $44,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from The University Of Tennessee
University Of Louisville landed the #16 spot for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Louisville. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Louisville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Louisville earn around $37,844 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Louisville
Florida State University came in at #17 for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 20 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $44,598. Typical student debt for the program is $26,707.
More information about a degree in geography from Florida State University
West Virginia University earned the #18 position for geography this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 geography students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $34,435. Students borrow a median of $23,089 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at West Virginia University
Kennesaw State University landed the #19 spot for geography this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 geography students who graduated with this degree at Kennesaw State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $40,020. Typical student debt for the program is $32,500.
See the full geography program report for Kennesaw State University
Marshall University came in at #20 for geography this year. This large public university is located in the city of Huntington. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marshall University awarded about 16 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $52,481 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography details for Marshall University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #21 spot for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 60 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $55,320. Students borrow a median of $20,868 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
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Notes and References
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 · 21 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.