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Thinking of investing in an online undergraduate program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)? Pick one that’s going to deliver on its promises! We’ve highlighted the 7 best online bachelor’s degrees in GIS and geospatial science. Some are tech-heavy, while others delve into specialist areas such as urban planning or climate modeling. Want to compare everything? Browse our full listings of online GIS bachelor’s degrees.
Rankings Methodology
GIScience is an interdisciplinary field, so we wanted to consider a range of quality factors when we were creating our rankings. Every school in the top 5 appears in at least one relevant U.S. News & World Report category related to geography & geoscience. These include geography, geoscience, environment/ecology, and earth science.
Schools at the top of our GIS rankings feature in all 4 categories. Better yet, our algorithm also factors in tuition costs. (For any public universities that charged different rates, we used the out-of-state rate for our calculations.) You don’t need to sacrifice quality for price!
How Rankings Changed in 2025
There hasn’t been a huge amount of movement since 2024. Arizona continues to lead the pack in undergraduate GIS education, with the University of Arizona and Arizona State University remaining at the #1 and #2 spots. New additions to our rankings include the affordable BS from South Dakota State University and the unique degree completion program from Tarleton State.
What has changed are the prices! Tuition rates have increased significantly across the board, especially at public universities. It’s something to bear in mind if you’re budgeting for a 4-year degree.
Top 7 Online Bachelor’s Programs in GIS
1 University of Arizona
Overview | Online BS in Geographic Information Systems Technologies (GIST)
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: Map Science; Cartography; GIS; Programming with Python; Remote Sensing; Geospatial Technologies; Geovisualization; Web & Mobile Applications; Applied GIST; Capstone Project
- Estimated Total Cost: $63,000
- Accreditation: HLC
Program Summary
UA’s program is the complete package. The 100% Online BS-GIST follows the U.S. Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model and it’s very strong on practical tech courses. You’ll be schooled in Python, integrated geospatial techniques & methods, and advanced GIS applications (e.g. dynamic segmentation, surface modeling, spatial statistics, etc.). There’s one course in statistical techniques for regional development and planning, but this is a better fit for aspiring developers & programmers. We’re particularly pleased to see the inclusion of a capstone project.
The online BS program is the brainchild of UA’s School of Geography and Development and the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, so it may also be a sensible choice for anyone interested in environmental applications. Have a look at the research work being done in remote sensing and the Southwest Climate. Tuition is not cheap, but you’ll graduate with marketable skills in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, data visualization, web mapping, GIS analysis, and more. Have a look at the section on Financial Aid for Online Students for advice on funding your degree.
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2 Arizona State University
Overview | Online BS in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: GIS; GIS Programming; Advanced Statistics for Geography & Planning; Geospatial Technologies; Spatial Analysis; Sustainability; Global Communities + GIS Electives + Applied Experience
- Estimated Total Cost: $51,668 (AZ Residents); $74,636 (Out-of-State)
- Accreditation: HLC
Program Summary
Customize your GIS degree to suit your career goals! ASU’s Online BS in GIS begins with foundational coursework in geography, GIS software & systems, advanced statistics, and programming. Once you reach Terms 8-10, you’ll be able to explore a range of fascinating GIS electives (e.g. spatial regression analysis, location analysis & modeling, geodesign & urban planning, etc.). For your applied experience, you might opt to complete an internship, thesis, or creative project. Considering graduate studies? Check out the Accelerated Master’s program and the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning.
ASU is a great pick if you’re interested in spatial studies & urban concerns. For proof, visit ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and explore the GIS-related projects within the Spatial Analysis Research Center (SPARC) and Urban Climate Research Center. You may also want to chat with the program coordinator about the possibility of working on real-world projects during your studies—the School has its own Geospatial Research & Solutions (GRS) offshoot that provides geospatial support services to industry partners.
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3 Oregon State University
Overview | Online BS in Geography & Geospatial Science
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: Geography; Climate Change; Sustainability; GIS; Cartography; Remote Sensing; Field Geography; Geospatial Analysis + Electives + Final Experience
- Estimated Total Cost: $65,880
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Program Summary
Environmental data lovers, take note! Oregon State’s Online BS in Geography & Geospatial Science is an intriguing mix of big picture thinking and technical courses. You can study sustainability and the human dimensions of climate change. But you’ll also be drilled in cartography, remote sensing, and GIS techniques. Tech geeks can pursue electives in geospatial modeling & analysis and programming. Others might wish to specialize in resource conflict & cooperation, earth system science, or environmental planning. The program culminates with an internship, research project, or thesis.
Oregon State is a member of The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science and its College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) has an outstanding track record in oceanography. Ask the program coordinator if you can apply for the paid Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program and take a look at faculty research projects in geospatial technologies & analysis to start brainstorming areas of interest (e.g. climate modeling). Thinking of graduate work in the future? Have a look at the Online Graduate Certificate in GIScience.
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4 Old Dominion University
Overview | Online BS in Geography: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: Human Geography; Environmental Geography; Maps & Geographic Information; GIS; Remote Sensing; Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments; Applied Cartography + Electives
- Estimated Total Cost: $52,736 (VA Residents); $56,456 (Out-of-State)
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
Program Summary
Go hard on geography before you narrow your focus with ODU’s Online BS in Geography: GIS. All BS students are required to complete courses in human & environmental geography and maps & geographic information, as well as 18 credit hours of geography electives (e.g. oceanography, geomorphology, urban geography, etc.). After you’ve laid the foundation, you can tackle four courses in the GIS concentration, including digital techniques for remote sensing, applied cartography, and even the spatial analysis of coastal environments.
ODU might be a good pick for geographers who want to learn standard GIS tools & methods, but don’t want to dive too deep at the undergraduate level. For example, the curriculum doesn’t include specific coursework in programming with Python. Thanks to ODU’s location on the edge of the Atlantic, the Department of Political Science & Geography has a particular interest in coastal geography. It also has close links to ODU’s Center for Geospatial Science, Education, and Analytics (GeoSEA), which is doing some fascinating work in flood & hurricane modeling. Check out the NASA Digital Twin of Hampton Roads.
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5 South Dakota State University
Overview | Online BS in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS)
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: GIS; Remote Sensing; Satellite Remote Sensing; Sustainable Societies + GIS Analyst or GIS Developer Specialization + Electives + Capstone
- Estimated Total Cost: $42,570
- Accreditation: HLC
Program Summary
It’s choose your own adventure with SDSU’s Online BS in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS). The foundation of the degree is built on geography and fundamental GIS concepts, including remote sensing. But after that, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to focus on becoming a GIS analyst or a GIS developer, designing GIS applications and software. You may even wish to add an undergraduate certificate (e.g. Uncrewed Aircraft Systems) or a minor (e.g. Geospatial Intelligence). For the senior capstone project, you’ll be expected to focus on Geography of the Future or Sustainable Communities.
Cost is a major plus—this is one of the cheapest programs in our Top 7. But we also like the look of the Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences and its Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence (GSCE). GSCE is a joint partnership between SDSU and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Center for Earth Resources Observation and Sciences, and the Xiaoyang Zhang Lab is focusing on areas like wildfire risk, climate-terrestrial ecosystem interactions, and land use changes. You may also want to get involved with satellite remote sensing work being generated by South Dakota View and the annual South Dakota State Geography Convention. Better yet, SDSU lists recent employers and internship opportunities on the program website (e.g. USGS EROS Center).
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6 Marshall University
Overview | Online BS in Geography: Geospatial Information Science (GIScience)
- Availability: 100% Online
- Program Focus: Human & Physical Geography; Cartography; GIS; Remote Sensing; GIS Technologies; GIS Analysis & Applications + Senior Capstone
- Estimated Total Cost: $44,130
- Accreditation: HLC
Program Summary
Concerned about your budget? Like SDSU, Marshall’s Online BS in Geography: GIScience is one of the more affordable program in our rankings. Your degree will be built around geography core requirements—including courses in GIS principles and cartography—but you’ll still have plenty of time to specialize in the GIScience area of emphasis. Get up to speed in remote sensing, GIS technologies (e.g. GPS, drones, digital earth, etc.), and GIS analysis & applications (e.g. GIS location analysis, spatial statistics, internship, etc.). Then set your sights on your senior capstone!
Marshall is a mid-tier player in the world of geography. It doesn’t have the research funding & resources of the big universities, but the Geography Department produces a number of talented graduates. It might be a sensible choice if you prefer small classes and one-on-one interactions with faculty (even at a distance). You’ll notice that your potential professors have GIS interests in everything from urban neighborhoods & transportation networks to landscape ecology & environmental geography. It’s worth noting that Marshall also offers an Online MS in Geography.
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7 Tarleton State University
Overview | Online BAAS in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Availability: 100% Online (Degree Completion Program)
- Program Focus: GIS; Applied Remote Sensing; C# Programming; Crime Mapping; SQL; Economic Geography + Geography Electives
- Estimated Total Cost: Depends on Credit Transfers
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
Program Summary
Tarleton State’s Online BAAS in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a new addition to our rankings for 2025—a degree that’s designed to accommodate the needs of non-traditional students with existing credits in military, technical or vocational education. See the section on Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) for more info. In addition to the standard assortment of GIS topics (e.g. remote sensing), you’ll find some intriguing courses lurking in the curriculum, including crime mapping and SQL. There’s no capstone, but you will have the option to select advanced geography electives. Tarleton also offers an on-campus BS in Geography and GIS.
Once you’ve explored coursework for the BAAS, head on over to the Department of History, Geography and GIS (HGG) to learn more about the GIS faculty. Tarleton State is a strong pick for GIS folks who are interested in farming & crops. Thanks to its location in Central Texas, Tarleton has a special interest in the agricultural sector. It runs the Center for Agribusiness Excellence (CAE), which is working with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to apply advanced geospatial analytics to agricultural data. And in March 2024, it won a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) award from Esri.
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All Online Bachelor's in GIS Programs
29 Schools Found
Alabama
Troy University
Department of Geospatial Informatics
Troy, Alabama
B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences
Offered Online
University of North Alabama
Department of Geoscience
Florence, Alabama
Arizona
Arizona State University
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Tempe, Arizona
Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Offered Online
Bachelor of Science in Geography
Offered Online
University of Arizona
School of Geography, Development, and Environment
Tucson, Arizona
Arkansas
Arkansas State University
Agriculture Studies
Jonesboro, Arkansas
California
UMass Global
Business & Professional Studies
Irvine, California
BBA in GIS and Data Analytics
Offered Online
Colorado
Front Range Community College
Department of Geographic Information Systems
Westminster, Colorado
Connecticut
University of Saint Joseph
Department of Geoscience
West Hartford, Connecticut
Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Geosciences Department
Boca Raton, Florida
Florida International University
Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs
Miami, Florida
University of Florida
Geography Department
Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Offered Online
Georgia
Kennesaw State University
Department of Geography and Anthropology
Kennesaw, Georgia
Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Offered Online
Illinois
Western Illinois University
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences
Macomb, Illinois
Kansas
Fort Hays State University
Department of Geosciences
Hays, Kansas
Maine
University of Maine at Machias
Division of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Machias, Maine
Minnesota
Bemidji State University
Geography Department
Bemidji, Minnesota
B.S. in Geography
Offered Online
Mississippi
Delta State University
Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information
Cleveland, Mississippi
Missouri
Park University
Department of Natural & Physical Sciences
Parkville, Missouri
B.S. in Geography
Offered Online
New York
Farmingdale State College
Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Farmingdale, New York
Oklahoma
Northeastern State University
Department of Geography & Political Science
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Oregon
Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon Tech Online
Klamath Falls, Oregon
BS in Geomatics - GIS Option
Offered Online
BS in Geomatics - Surveying Option
Offered Online
Oregon State University
Department of Geography and Geospatial Science
Corvallis, Oregon
South Dakota
South Dakota State University
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences
Brookings, South Dakota
B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences
Offered Online
BA or BS in Geography
Offered Online
Minor in Geospatial Intelligence
Offered Online
Texas
Tarleton State University
Department of History, Sociology, Geography and GIS
Stephenville, Texas
Virginia
George Mason University
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science
Fairfax, Virginia
BA in Geography
Offered Online
Liberty University
College of Arts and Sciences
Lynchburg, Virginia
Bachelor's in Geography
Offered Online
Old Dominion University
Department of Political Science & Geography
Norfolk, Virginia
BA or BS in Geography
Offered Online
Washington
Central Washington University
Department of Geography
Ellensburg, Washington
BA in Geography
Offered Online
West Virginia
Marshall University
Geography Department
Huntington, West Virginia