[Geographic Information Science](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geographic-information-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geographic information science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Leading the list is Florida Atlantic University, our #1 best value for geographic information science in Florida. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $19,692 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $42,833. Set against $19,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for geographic information science. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $19,677. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $47,141. Set against $19,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the best values for geographic information science. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $26,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $44,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
More Geographic Information Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
