2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
43
Ranked Colleges
1,187
Degrees Awarded
$15,300
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,187 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,196 and $24,578 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 43 colleges that offer a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Geography & Cartography Schools
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid per year to attend UIUC.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - 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.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $14,619 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 24 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region geography students with aid per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Full UW - La Crosse Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 88 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region 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 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%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Ohio State
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students with aid list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - River Falls Geography & Cartography Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UW - Whitewater
With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Michigan State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Michigan State
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 22 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid per year to attend Ball State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State University Geography & Cartography Report
Indiana State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana State is a medium-sized school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 25 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana State University is $14,270 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
Full Indiana State University Geography & Cartography Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,462 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UWM
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 14 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $11,082 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UW - Parkside
Central Michigan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 more about Geography & Cartography at Central Michigan
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 33 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students with aid list, WMU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $20,371 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at WMU
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,346 for great lakes region geography students with aid per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UW - Stevens Point
Eastern Michigan University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 14 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Eastern Michigan University
With a ranking of #21, Chicago State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago State University is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Chicago State University is $12,681 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full CSU Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #22, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $13,098 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Eastern Illinois University
Indiana University - Southeast ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $11,446 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Indiana University - Southeast
Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $23,279 for great lakes region geography students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Northwestern
Grand Valley State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 77 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
GVSU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Geography students with aid per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at GVSU
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