[Geographic Information Science](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geographic-information-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geographic information science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for geographic information science students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geographic information science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire, our #1 best value for geographic information science in Wisconsin. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Typical student debt for geographic information science graduates is $21,212. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $40,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value geographic information science schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the geographic information science program here. Geographic Information Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $58,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
More Geographic Information Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
