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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Plains States Region

33 Ranked Colleges
494 Degrees Awarded
$25,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region” 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 Plains States region, there were 494 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,544 and $20,546 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 33 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geography and cartography.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region geography students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Plains States Region

1
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macalester College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region list. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Macalester College

2
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #2 spot on the list. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Gustavus Adolphus

3
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Park University landed the #3 spot on the list. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Park University

4

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Cloquet, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

5
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State University Geography & Cartography Report

6

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 32 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Geography & Cartography Report

7
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Northern Iowa

8

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 SMU MN

9
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #9, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 15 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Geography & Cartography Report

10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

11
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wayne, Nebraska, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Full WSC Geography & Cartography Report

12
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 5 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Pittsburg State University

13

Indian Hills Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region list. IHCC is a small school located in Ottumwa, Iowa that handed out 2 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full IHCC Geography & Cartography Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Missouri - Columbia

15

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 22 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Geography & Cartography Report

16
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 3 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bemidji State University Geography & Cartography Report

17
Saint Paul College crest
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Full Saint Paul College Geography & Cartography Report

18
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 UND

19

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Missouri State University - Springfield

20
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Kansas

21
UST MN crest
University of St Thomas Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region list. UST MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Geography & Cartography Report

22

Concordia University, Nebraska came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Seward, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Concordia University, Nebraska

23
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Iowa

24
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 more about Geography & Cartography at Kansas State University

25

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Geography & Cartography Report

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