[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 7 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.
George Mason University earned the #1 spot for value among geographic information science schools in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career geographic information science graduates make about $49,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geographic information science schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the geographic information science program here. Soon after graduation, geographic information science degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $57,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geographic information science will find it at University Of Mary Washington, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Geographic Information Science graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $43,243 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geographic information science will find it at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $39,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
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 · 7 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.
