2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 the Great Lakes region, there were 1,189 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,150 and $24,739 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 184 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree geography students.
Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 55 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #2 spot on the list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #3 spot on the list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
NIU also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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 #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 14 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #6, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 7 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Kent State University at Kent came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 18 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kent State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.
University of Akron Main Campus also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Geography & Cartography Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 3 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.
IUPUI also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 6 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
Eastern Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Eastern Michigan University Geography & Cartography Report
Western Michigan University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students list, WMU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Western Michigan University
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at IU Bloomington
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Michigan State University Geography & Cartography Report
Miami University - Oxford came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 4 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.
Full Miami University - Oxford Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #18, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
University of Toledo also took the #17 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Toledo
With a ranking of #19, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 8 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students list, Ohio State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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Geography & Cartography students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
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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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