2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
27
Ranked Colleges
141
Degrees Awarded
$27,300
Avg Cost*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Geography & Cartography is the 110th most popular major in the country with 8,281 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 141 geography & cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,182 and $43,142 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in geography & cartography. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their geography & cartography program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree geography students.
Top 27 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chicago State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. CSU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Chicago State University
Out of the 27 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #2 spot on the list. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at EIU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan Technological University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized school located in Houghton, Michigan that handed out 5 masters’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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Michigan Tech
Out of the 27 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2021-2022.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UW - Madison Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kent State University at Kent. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 19 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Kent State
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 3 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Western Illinois University
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2021-2022.
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%.
Full WMU Geography & Cartography Report
Miami University - Oxford landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s 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 5 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Miami University - Oxford
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 masters’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%.
Full SIUE Geography & Cartography Report
Eastern Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geography students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Eastern Michigan University
University of Toledo ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Full University of Toledo Geography & Cartography Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 10 students 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 5 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
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 Central Michigan
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 1 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Akron Main Campus
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 7 masters’s geography degrees 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Northern Illinois University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 4 masters’s geography 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northern Illinois University
With a ranking of #17, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
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 full report on Geography & Cartography at Indiana State
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 2 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full IUPUI Geography & Cartography Report
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at IU Bloomington
With a ranking of #20, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Michigan State
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Ball State is a fairly large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 2 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s geography students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Wisconsin - Milwaukee Geography & Cartography Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 4 masters’s geography degrees 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Ohio State University - Main Campus
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
With a ranking of #25, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 0 masters’s geography degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at SIUC
Calvin University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Calvin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Calvin
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 0 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Geography & Cartography Report
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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.
