2026 Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Geography & Cartography is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geography & cartography programs.
College Factual analyzed 79 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geography & cartography schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geography & cartography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Geography & Cartography
No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for geography & cartography. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 105 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $58,681 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Miami University Oxford is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography & cartography, ranking #2. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 31 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,700 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans.
See the full geography & cartography program report for Miami University Oxford
Students looking for a strong geography & cartography program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 21 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
See the full geography & cartography program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for geography & cartography. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 15 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at Michigan State University
A rank of #5 makes Calvin College one of the top schools for geography & cartography. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 21 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Calvin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $44,220. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at Calvin College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 26 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $42,214 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Depaul University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 24 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $47,464 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $23,412 in student loans.
Get the full geography & cartography details for Depaul University
Illinois State University placed #8 among the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $34,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at Illinois State University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #9 position for geography & cartography this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 45 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,048. Typical student debt for the program is $21,212.
See the full geography & cartography program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Grand Valley State University earned the #10 position for geography & cartography this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 46 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $36,367 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
See the full geography & cartography program report for Grand Valley State University
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #11 position for geography & cartography this year. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 30 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $40,051 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $23,983 in student loans.
Get the full geography & cartography details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Northern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for geography & cartography this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Northern Illinois University awarded about 17 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography & cartography details for Northern Illinois University
Indiana State University placed #13 among the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 10 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Indiana State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography & cartography program at Indiana State University
Kent State University At Kent placed #14 among the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 34 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $42,015 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans.
Get the full geography & cartography details for Kent State University At Kent
Western Illinois University landed the #15 spot for geography & cartography this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Illinois University awarded about 16 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Typical student debt for the program is $27,639.
Get the full geography & cartography details for Western Illinois University
Narrow Geography & Cartography Schools by State
More Geography & Cartography Rankings
View All Geography & Cartography Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 79 schools evaluated.
- 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.