2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for geography & cartography students.
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2027 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked Southeast Community College Area the best value for a degree in geography & cartography in the The Plains States Region. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Geography & Cartography graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #2 place for geography & cartography. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $23,741. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bemidji State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Students borrow a median of $25,819 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Geography & Cartography graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $48,984 early in their careers. Set against $25,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pittsburg State University earned it the #4 place for geography & cartography. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $22,669. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $50,003. That is a strong return on a $22,669 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for geography & cartography. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $38,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #6 position for value in geography & cartography this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,939. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #7 among the best values for geography & cartography. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $23,496 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $54,204. That is a strong return on a $23,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #8 for value in geography & cartography this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $45,482. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #9 among the best values for geography & cartography. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $21,000. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $38,726 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Park University landed the #10 spot for geography & cartography value this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $22,112. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Park University generally make around $58,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Iowa landed the #11 spot for geography & cartography value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $23,904. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $45,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,904 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
