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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

11 Ranked Colleges
145 Degrees Awarded
$12,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 5,476 people earned their degree in geography, making the major the 144th most popular in the United States.

Across Illinois, there were 182 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 145 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in geography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geography Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $2,712 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full UChicago Geography Report

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $1,866 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography at Northwestern

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,477 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography at UIUC

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

SIUE also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $8,055 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Geography Report

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography at Illinois State

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 13 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, NIU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,281 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read full report on Geography at Northern Illinois University

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $12,350 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geography at EIU

#8

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Augustana College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Augustana is located in Rock Island, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Augustana also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Augustana College is $20,355 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Augustana College Geography Report

#9

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $16,903 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography at Elmhurst University

#10 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for illinois bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geography at Northeastern Illinois University

#11

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $26,173 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Geography Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Couleur.

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