[Geographic Information Science](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geographic-information-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geographic information science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for geographic information science students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geographic information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best value for a degree in geographic information science in Wisconsin. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $58,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned it the #2 place for geographic information science. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Students borrow a median of $21,212 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $40,048 early in their careers. Set against $21,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Geographic Information Science Rankings
View All Geographic Information Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
