The Best Schools Offering Master’s Programs in Geography
Higher Education Articles March 3, 2017Overview of Schools offering Geography Degree Programs
In 2010, the U.S. News and World Report ranked both Syracuse University and Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) among the 100 best national universities; it gave Penn State the higher ranking. Although master’s degree programs in geography are available at both schools, there is a difference in their degree programs and specialization options. A Master of Science (M.S.) with four specialization options is available through Penn State; a Master of Arts (M.A.) is available at Syracuse. A professional degree option is also available through Penn State for individuals keen on studying geographic information systems.
Pennsylvania State University in University Park
In 2010, the U.S. News and World Report accorded Pennsylvania State University the 47th rank on its list of best national universities. A Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography degree program is available through Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Students may also get the option of concentrating in physical geography, nature and society, geographic information systems (GIS), and human geography. A Master of GIS program designed for experienced professionals is also available at the college.
Syracuse University in New York
In 2010, the U.S. News and World Report accorded Syracuse University (SU) the 58th rank on its list of best national universities. A Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography is available at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs through its social science department. Students enrolled in the program have to complete 30 credit-hours including courses in urban studies, sustainability and development, cultural geography, and map design.
Top Schools offering Geography Degree Programs
| School Name | Total Student Enrollment | Location |
| University of Pennsylvania | 24,806 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Duke University | 15,856 | Durham, North Carolina |
| Dartmouth College | 6,298 | Hanover, New Hampshire |
| University of Chicago | 15,097 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Northwestern University | 21,554 | Evanston, Illinois |
| Johns Hopkins University | 21,372 | Baltimore, Maryland |
| University of California – Berkeley | 37,565 | Berkeley, California |
| University of California – Los Angeles | 41,845 | Los Angeles, California |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 29,135 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Middlebury College | 2,533 | Middlebury, Vermont |
