Best Value Geography and Cartography Colleges in Wisconsin

Wisconsin geography and cartography graduates earn between $27,488 and $37,208 annually, with University of Wisconsin-Whitewater leading earnings at $37,208 despite a modest net cost of $14,785. The state's mapping needs span from agricultural land management to urban planning for cities like Madison and Milwaukee, where GIS specialists support Epic Systems' healthcare mapping initiatives and agricultural technology companies. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with 9 of 11 programs offering net costs under $17,000. The earnings gap of nearly $10,000 between top and bottom programs reflects Wisconsin's varied geography career paths, from county planning departments to private surveying firms.

Programs

$10,044 – $24,813

Net Price Range

$33,484

Avg. Program Earnings

61.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Geography and Cartography Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin	$14,785	$37,208	$8,250	64.3%	82.4%
2	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	$14,714	$35,416	$8,606	60.9%	84.5%
3	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin	$15,374	$36,488	$9,651	71.2%	74.3%
4	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928	$34,847	$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
5	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	$14,754	$29,685	$8,315	61.5%	85.4%
6	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin	$16,948	$33,281	$9,277	67.6%	76.6%
7	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$16,177	$27,488	$10,020	51.2%	86.3%
8	Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin	$24,813	$33,459	$36,500	60.5%	81.8%
9	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin	$14,761		$8,212	57.9%	88.5%
10	University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, Wisconsin	$10,044		$7,855	39.8%	72.8%
11	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin	$13,726		$8,834	56.0%	89.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Wisconsin-Whitewater the top value for geography earnings?

UW-Whitewater graduates earn $37,208 annually while paying just $14,785 net cost, creating the strongest return on investment among Wisconsin geography programs. The university combines affordable education with strong job placement in southeastern Wisconsin's growing suburban planning sector.

How much can students save by choosing public over private geography programs?

Carthage College charges $24,813 net cost compared to public options averaging $15,000, creating a $10,000 annual savings. Public university graduates still earn competitive salaries, with UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls both exceeding $35,000 in median earnings.

Does University of Wisconsin-Madison justify its higher costs for geography students?

UW-Madison costs $16,928 net but delivers an 89.30% graduation rate, the highest among Wisconsin geography programs. However, graduates earn $34,847, which falls below UW-Whitewater's $37,208 despite the additional investment.

Where do Wisconsin geography graduates find the most career opportunities?

Wisconsin's agriculture and manufacturing sectors create demand for GIS specialists and land use planners, particularly around Epic Systems in Madison and agricultural technology companies statewide. County planning departments and environmental consulting firms also hire geography graduates across the state's 72 counties.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.