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2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid

234 Ranked Colleges
8,526 Degrees Awarded
$11,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid

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 Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 8,526 people earned their degree in geography and cartography, making the major the 110th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 234 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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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 Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for geography students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (With Aid)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UW Seattle also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $12,017 for Geography students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of Florida is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $5,135 for Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Florida.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 UF Geography & Cartography Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 155 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $15,023 for geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, 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 96%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UCLA

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,469 for Geography students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Geography & Cartography Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our geography students with aid list, BYU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for geography students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Geography & Cartography Report

6
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Hunter is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Hunter is $2,158 for geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Hunter College

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for geography students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,322 for geography students with aid per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Central New Mexico Community College

9
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

Lehman College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lehman College is located in Bronx, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Lehman is $2,614 for geography students with aid.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Lehman

10

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 132 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our geography students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Geography students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 University of Wisconsin - Madison

11

California State University - Long Beach ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for geography students with aid.

The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full California State University - Long Beach Geography & Cartography Report

12

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,302 for Geography students with aid per year to attend Cal State LA.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Geography & Cartography Report

13

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 33 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of South Florida - Main Campus

14

California State University - Northridge ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 45 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,523 for geography students with aid per year to attend CSUN.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Northridge

15

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 99 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

UMCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Maryland - College Park is $18,048 for Geography students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UMCP

16

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 119 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our geography students with aid list, UCSB has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $16,252 for geography students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Geography & Cartography Report

17

California State University - Fullerton came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 39 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $8,003 for Geography students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full California State University - Fullerton Geography & Cartography Report

18
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Texas State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $14,887 for Geography students with aid.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Texas State University

19

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $18,350 for Geography students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Geography & Cartography at UT Austin

20
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school handed out 80 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

U of U also claimed a top spot on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $13,572 for geography students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Utah

21
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Appalachian State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State University is $13,989 for Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Appalachian State University Geography & Cartography Report

22

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 97 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ASU - Tempe is also in the top of our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Tempe is $13,107 for Geography students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Arizona State University - Tempe

23

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. UT Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UT Dallas is $15,526 for Geography students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UT Dallas Geography & Cartography Report

24
American River crest
American River College
Sacramento, California

American River College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. American River is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,561 for Geography students with aid per year to attend American River College.

Full American River Geography & Cartography Report

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 37 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $11,178 for Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Sacramento

Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Geography Schools For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
31
32
Binghamton University crest
Binghamton University
Vestal, New York
32
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
34
35
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
36

Notes and References

References

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