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2022 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

13 Ranked Colleges
242 Degrees Awarded
$12,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,936 people earned their degree in geography and cartography, making the major the 107th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,126 and had an average of $23,577 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 242 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,000 and $19,500 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geography and cartography programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $2,712 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UChicago

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 1 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $1,866 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Northwestern

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UIUC Geography & Cartography Report

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 38 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $8,055 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SIUE Geography & Cartography Report

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 31 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,470 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Geography & Cartography Report

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

NIU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,281 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Full NIU Geography & Cartography Report

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $12,350 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Eastern Illinois University

#8

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augustana, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana College is $20,355 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Augustana Geography & Cartography Report

#9

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 4 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Elmhurst, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst is $16,903 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Elmhurst University

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, WIU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Full WIU Geography & Cartography Report

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Northeastern Illinois University

#12

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

CSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSU is $11,507 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Chicago State University

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePaul has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $26,173 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at DePaul University

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Couleur.

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