Geography degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geography programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 366 schools to find the best for geography students.
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Choosing a Great Geography School
Where you study geography matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Geography rankings. For our Best Overall Geography School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Geography Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Geography in the United States
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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of Florida this year for geography. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $43,856. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $18,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Florida
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 37 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $58,681. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Miami University Oxford came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. About 31 geography degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,700 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177.
See the full geography program report for Miami University Oxford
Students looking for a strong geography program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #4. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 21 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $37,398 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
See the full geography program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong geography program will find one at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 24 geography degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $53,543 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 53 geography degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $36,776 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $13,969 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for University Of California Los Angeles
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #7 for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 18 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $54,204 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,479 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from Texas A And M University College Station
Colgate University placed #8 among the best geography schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 geography students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $52,924. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at Colgate University
George Washington University landed the #9 spot for geography this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 geography students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $52,883 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography details for George Washington University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #10 for geography this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. About 29 geography degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $42,454 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Middlebury College came in at #11 for geography this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 14 geography degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $54,713 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
More information about a degree in geography from Middlebury College
George Mason University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 25 geography degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $49,568 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for George Mason University
James Madison University placed #13 among the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 geography students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $45,094. Typical student debt for the program is $19,800.
See the full geography program report for James Madison University
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $48,227 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from California State University Sacramento
San Diego State University came in at #15 for geography this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 54 geography degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from San Diego State University earn around $38,648 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from San Diego State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 45 geography degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $39,328 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #17 spot for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 28 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $38,019 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Denver earned the #18 position for geography this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $58,717 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for University Of Denver
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #19 position for geography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 46 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $36,878 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
Read more about the geography program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Michigan State University came in at #20 for geography this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 10 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from Michigan State University
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #21 among the best geography schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 38 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $38,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of Missouri Columbia
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #22 for geography this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 geography students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in geography from Pennsylvania State University World Campus
California State University Long Beach earned the #23 position for geography this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $52,865 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from California State University Long Beach
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #24 among the best geography schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $35,426. Students borrow a median of $15,826 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Sonoma State University earned the #25 position for geography this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 27 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $40,614. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in geography from Sonoma State University
Rest of the Top 50 Geography Schools
These schools also placed among the best for geography this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 366 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).
