2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in the Southwest Region
[Geography & Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geography & cartography education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value geography & cartography schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in the Southwest Region
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
For return on investment in geography & cartography, no school beat Tarrant County College District this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #2 place for geography & cartography. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #3 spot this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes San Juan College one of the best values for geography & cartography. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $16,150. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $41,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in geography & cartography will find it at Collin County Community College District, which ranked #5. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $9,716. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,177. That is a strong return on a $9,716 median debt.
Lone Star College System ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $39,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Arizona University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $21,645. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University placed #8 among the best values for geography & cartography. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,096 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $48,740. Set against $24,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #9 for value in geography & cartography this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,968 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,197. That is a strong return on a $24,759 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #11 spot for geography & cartography value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $14,705 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $32,096. Set against $14,705 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #12 for value in geography & cartography this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Students borrow a median of $20,994 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $39,960. That is a strong return on a $20,994 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sam Houston State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $25,156 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $35,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona placed #14 among the best values for geography & cartography. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $49,815. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #15 spot for geography & cartography value this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $24,021 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $44,590 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University earned the #16 position for value in geography & cartography this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $21,875. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $36,878. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $16,479 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $54,204. That is a strong return on a $16,479 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
