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2023 Geographic Information Science Degree Guide

A Recent Jump in Geographic Information Science Degrees

#333 Most Popular Major
3.2k Degrees Awarded
4.1% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, geographic information science was the 333rd most popular major nationwide with 3,231 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 133 over the prior year, a growth of 4.1%.

This year's Best Geographic Information Science Schools ranking compares 86 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom geographic information science rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Geographic Information Science
2023 Overall Best Geographic Information Science Colleges >

Best Geographic Information Science Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Geographic Information Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Geographic Information Science
Master's Degrees in Geographic Information Science
Doctorate Degrees in Geographic Information Science

Geographic Information Science Degree Requirements

One of the most important skills you will need for a career in geographic information science is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Required skills include communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Geographic Information Science Degree Program Entry Requirements

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional geographic information science certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Types of Geographic Information Science Degrees

There are various different levels of geographic information science degrees. Geographic Information Science programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest geographic information science degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common geographic information science degree levels is shown below.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to geographic information science, with approximately 50.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for geographic information science workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree 46.7%
Doctoral Degree 19.0%
Master’s Degree 13.1%
Post-Secondary Certificate 6.3%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 5.9%

82.3% of geographic information science workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in geographic information science have obtained.

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The education level required is different depending on the geographic information science career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for Geographic Information Science Majors

Average Number of Jobs
91k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
8% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

Solid Growth Projected for Geographic Information Science Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your geographic information science degree? Geographic Information Science careers are expected to grow 8.2% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to geographic information science.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Managers 1,071,700 8.0%
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists 15,000 19.0%
Geography Professors 5,400 8.0%

How Much Money Do Geographic Information Science Grads Make?

As you might expect, salaries for geographic information science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

Highest Paid Geographic Information Science Careers

Salaries for geographic information science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers geographic information science grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Managers $115,590
Geography Professors $88,950
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $68,340

Getting Your Geographic Information Science Degree

With over 493 different geographic information science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased geographic information science school rankings to help you with this.

One of 2 majors within the Geography & Cartography area of study, Geographic Information Science has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Geography 4,954
Other Geography 341

View All Geographic Information Science Related Majors >

References

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