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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

22 Ranked Colleges
184 Degrees Awarded
$23,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Great Lakes region, there were 1,189 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,150 and $24,739 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 184 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geography and cartography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography and cartography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geography & Cartography Schools

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 14 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UIUC

#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #3 spot on the list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Michigan State

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 8 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State Geography & Cartography Report

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 3 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Geography & Cartography Report

#11 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Geography & Cartography Report

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUE Geography & Cartography Report

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northern Illinois University Geography & Cartography Report

#9

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761.

Full EIU Geography & Cartography Report

#10

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 3 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Central Michigan

#5 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 4 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Miami University - Oxford

#12

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #12, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Indiana State also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana State University Geography & Cartography Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Geography & Cartography Report

#14

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Western Michigan University

#8 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Kent State

#16

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 6 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Eastern Michigan has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Eastern Michigan

#9 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#18

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.

WIU also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Western Illinois University Geography & Cartography Report

#19

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#17 in overall quality

University of Toledo ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 8 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Toledo Geography & Cartography Report

#20

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Chicago State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSU is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

CSU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chicago State University are $15,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at CSU

#19 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 3 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Geography & Cartography Report

With a ranking of #22, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full OHIO Athens Geography & Cartography Report

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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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