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2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k

12 Ranked Colleges
242 Degrees Awarded
$21,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 12 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Geography & Cartography Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $16,784 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northwestern University.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern Geography & Cartography Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $17,929 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UChicago

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 54 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $21,998 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 17 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $21,425 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at NIU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 38 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, SIUE has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,928 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Geography & Cartography Report

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, EIU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $19,147 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Eastern Illinois University

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 31 ’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $25,379 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Illinois State.

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

With a ranking of #8, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $22,526 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northeastern Illinois University

#9

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Augustana is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s 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 Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana is $23,730 for Illinois Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Augustana College Geography & Cartography Report

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2019-2020.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $20,181 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at WIU

#11

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students 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 estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $23,604 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Elmhurst University

#12

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $30,877 for illinois geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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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