2023 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
19
Ranked Colleges
494
Degrees Awarded
$13,300
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 8,526 people earned their degree in geography and cartography, making the major the 110th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 494 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,544 and $20,546 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geography and cartography programs that also have a lower cost than 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 and cartography program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 56 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $7,698 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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 93%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,005 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Mizzou Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macalester College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Macalester not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,926 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Macalester College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 17 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $10,513 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Northern Iowa Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $13,554 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Iowa
Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 32 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $9,906 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northwest
University of North Dakota came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 10 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $12,394 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
Full University of North Dakota Geography & Cartography Report
Park University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Parkville, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 42 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Park University, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,020 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Park University.
Full Park University Geography & Cartography Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 22 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $11,692 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Minnesota State Mankato
Saint Cloud State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 15 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $10,348 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at St. Cloud State University
University of Kansas landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, KU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,666 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend KU.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at KU
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 10 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Gustavus Adolphus also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,735 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Gustavus Adolphus College
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $11,672 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UNL
South Dakota State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,171 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Dakota State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at South Dakota State
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 7 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $10,578 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UNOMAHA
Kansas State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
K -State also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $13,436 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend K -State.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Kansas State University Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #17, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,724 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #18, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 21 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,381 for plains states region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UST MN also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $32,436 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UST MN.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of St Thomas Minnesota
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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
- *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.
