by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geography & Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for geography & cartography students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geography & cartography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Arizona Western College earned the #1 spot for value among geography & cartography schools in Arizona. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #2 spot this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $24,096. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $48,740. That is a strong return on a $24,096 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #3 place for geography & cartography. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arizona earned it the #4 place for geography & cartography. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $49,815. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.