by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geography & Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography & cartography students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geography & cartography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Unity College tops our 2026 list of the best value geography & cartography schools in the New England Region. Unity College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Gloucester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,640. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $27,083. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $36,144. Set against $27,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the best values for geography & cartography. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $52,821. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Plymouth State University earned it the #3 place for geography & cartography. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $26,972 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Plymouth State University earn a median of $45,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geography & cartography will find it at Salem State University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Geography & Cartography graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $32,504 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Vermont is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Students borrow a median of $18,284 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $33,424 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut earned the #6 position for value in geography & cartography this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $23,637. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $58,784. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #7 position for value in geography & cartography this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $53,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College landed the #8 spot for geography & cartography value this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $15,948. Geography & Cartography graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,948 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University came in at #9 for value in geography & cartography this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,467. Geography & Cartography graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,458. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.