2027 Best Value Geography Schools in Virginia

[Geography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geography/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geography education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value geography schools.
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2027 Best Value Geography Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geography Schools
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for geography in Virginia. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #2 place for geography. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,568. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geography will find it at University Of Mary Washington, which ranked #3. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. In-state tuition and fees average $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $43,243 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary Washington admits about 80% of applicants.
James Madison University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $19,800 in student loans. Geography graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in geography will find it at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Geography graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Geography graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $39,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #6 position for value in geography this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the geography program here. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.