[Geographic Information Science](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geographic-information-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for geographic information science students.
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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 North Georgia the best value for a degree in geographic information science in Georgia. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $21,439. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $43,714. Set against $21,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Georgia admits about 68% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geographic information science schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Students looking for strong value in geographic information science will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #3. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $22,133 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $26,801. Set against $22,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geographic information science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,091 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $51,103. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Kennesaw State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value geographic information science schools. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $32,500. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $40,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
More Geographic Information Science Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.
