2026 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in North Carolina

[Geography & Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geography & cartography students.
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2026 Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geography & cartography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geography & Cartography Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among geography & cartography schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $15,117. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,454. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for geography & cartography graduates is $22,851. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $25,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,954 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Early-career geography & cartography graduates make about $42,210. That is a strong return on a $23,954 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geography & cartography schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Geography & Cartography graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $41,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #5 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for geography & cartography. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $20,868 to complete the geography & cartography program here. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $55,320. That is a strong return on a $20,868 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.