by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2021-2022, 8,281 people earned their degree in geography & cartography, making the major the 110th most popular in the United States. In , geography & cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $39,673 and had an average of $22,654 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,007 geography & cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,196 and $22,732 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 71 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geography & cartography. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in geography & cartography.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region geography students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carthage College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Carthage is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 8 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Carthage College
Out of the 71 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Augustana College landed the #2 spot on the list. Augustana is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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 1.1% 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 53 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 17 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 22 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Eastern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 7 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Eastern Illinois University
Indiana University - Southeast landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is located in New Albany, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
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 Indiana University - Southeast
Ohio Wesleyan University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delaware, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 30 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Calvin University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 94 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #13, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Kent State University at Kent Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 38 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%.
Chicago State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Chicago State University
University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Geography & Cartography Report
Illinois State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 36 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Western Michigan University
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 68 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Aquinas College Michigan landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 3 ’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Aquinas College Michigan
Valparaiso University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Lakeland Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Lakeland Community College is a public institution located in Kirtland, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Miami University - Oxford came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 50 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #25, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies