2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in Michigan

[Geography & Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geography & cartography education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography & cartography students.
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2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geography & cartography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools
Northern Michigan University earned the #1 spot for value among geography & cartography schools in Michigan. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. Students from in state pay about $14,322 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Students borrow a median of $22,608 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Geography & Cartography graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. Set against $22,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $17,425. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $41,103. Set against $17,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Grand Valley State University one of the best values for geography & cartography. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $36,367. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #4 place for geography & cartography. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Calvin College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,350. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $44,220 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.