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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

12 Ranked Colleges
168 Degrees Awarded
$13,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Geography & Cartography is the 107th most popular major in the country with 8,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 168 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geography and cartography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geography and cartography programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $3,995 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $2,800 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UChicago Geography & Cartography Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UIUC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $9,938 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $11,316 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full EIU Geography & Cartography Report

#6

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 31 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,999 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Illinois State University

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

NIU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $15,861 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northern Illinois University

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Western Illinois University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,526 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend WIU.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Western Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $15,513 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Northeastern Illinois University

#10

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Elmhurst also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst is $17,837 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Geography & Cartography at Elmhurst

#11

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Augustana College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 17 bachelors’s geography degrees 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana College is $16,249 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Augustana

#12

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $25,842 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at DePaul University

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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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