2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region
71
Ranked Colleges
1,187
Degrees Awarded
$27,400
Avg Cost*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Geography & Cartography is the 110th most popular major in the country with 8,526 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,187 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,196 and $24,578 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 71 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular geography and cartography programs in the United States.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Geography & Cartography Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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.
Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region”.
Top 29 Most Popular Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 132 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 88 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Ohio State
Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 45 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UIUC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kent State University at Kent. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
Full Kent State University at Kent Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 48 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UW - Eau Claire
Illinois State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Illinois State University
Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 29 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Michigan State University
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Western Michigan University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 33 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Western Michigan University Geography & Cartography Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Geography & Cartography Report
Miami University - Oxford came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, 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 88%.
Full Miami University - Oxford Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 24 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Indiana State University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Indiana State University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Ball State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Ball State
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 40 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 19 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Central Michigan University
Grand Valley State University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Grand Valley State University
Eastern Illinois University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
Full EIU Geography & Cartography Report
Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended 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 ’s geography degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Geography & Cartography Report
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 14 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Eastern Michigan University
With a ranking of #22, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 32 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UC
With a ranking of #23, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northern Illinois University Geography & Cartography Report
University of Chicago landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Chicago
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
DePaul University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at DePaul University
Carthage College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Carthage Geography & Cartography Report
Augustana College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 10 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Augustana
University of Toledo did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Full University of Toledo Geography & Cartography Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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.
college factual
