ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region

19 Colleges in the United States
463 Geography & Cartography Degrees Awarded
$46,848 Avg Early-Career Salary

Geography & Cartography is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geography & cartography programs.

College Factual analyzed 79 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geography & cartography schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 45.07), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Geosciences (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Geosciences (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region

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 & cartography degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Geography & Cartography

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for geography & cartography. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 105 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $58,681 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Read more about the geography & cartography program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

Miami University Oxford is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography & cartography, ranking #2. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 31 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,700 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. See the full geography & cartography program report for Miami University Oxford

3

Students looking for a strong geography & cartography program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 21 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree. See the full geography & cartography program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

4
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

A rank of #4 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for geography & cartography. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 15 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Read more about the geography & cartography program at Michigan State University

5
Calvin College crest
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI

A rank of #5 makes Calvin College one of the top schools for geography & cartography. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 21 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Calvin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $44,220. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans. Read more about the geography & cartography program at Calvin College

6

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 26 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $42,214 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the geography & cartography program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 24 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $47,464 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $23,412 in student loans. Get the full geography & cartography details for Depaul University

8

Illinois State University placed #8 among the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $34,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the geography & cartography program at Illinois State University

9

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #9 position for geography & cartography this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 45 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,048. Typical student debt for the program is $21,212. See the full geography & cartography program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

10

Grand Valley State University earned the #10 position for geography & cartography this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 46 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $36,367 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875. See the full geography & cartography program report for Grand Valley State University

11

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #11 position for geography & cartography this year. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 30 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $40,051 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $23,983 in student loans. Get the full geography & cartography details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

12

Northern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for geography & cartography this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Northern Illinois University awarded about 17 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree. Get the full geography & cartography details for Northern Illinois University

13
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University placed #13 among the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 10 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Indiana State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete this degree. Read more about the geography & cartography program at Indiana State University

14

Kent State University At Kent placed #14 among the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 34 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $42,015 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Get the full geography & cartography details for Kent State University At Kent

15

Western Illinois University landed the #15 spot for geography & cartography this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Illinois University awarded about 16 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Typical student debt for the program is $27,639. Get the full geography & cartography details for Western Illinois University

Narrow Geography & Cartography Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All Geography & Cartography Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 79 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options