Oregon State University’s Ecampus delivers some of the most GIS-focused online geography programs in the country, taught by faculty in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS). Students can earn a B.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science (including an honors version), an M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science, or undergraduate and graduate GIScience certificates.
Every program charges the same tuition to Oregon residents and nonresidents. Ecampus ranked No. 6 in U.S. News Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2026, its 12th straight year in the top 10.
Program at a Glance
| Online degrees | B.S. and Honors B.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science; M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science |
| Certificates | GIScience undergraduate certificate (27 quarter credits); GIScience graduate certificate (19 quarter credits) |
| B.S. credits | 180 quarter credits (equal to 120 semester credits) |
| M.S. credits | 45 quarter credits, non-thesis with a capstone project |
| Undergraduate tuition | $409 per credit, residents and nonresidents |
| Graduate tuition | $609 per credit, residents and nonresidents |
| Format | Asynchronous, term-based quarters (no scheduled class meetings) |
| Starts | B.S.: four per year; M.S.: fall, winter or spring |
| Accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) |
Bachelor’s Degree
The B.S. emphasizes geospatial science alongside physical, human and environmental justice geography. Requirements come from the OSU catalog.
Core Geospatial Courses
| Course | Quarter credits |
|---|---|
| GEOG 201 Foundations of Geospatial Science and GIS | 4 |
| GEOG 360 GIScience I | 4 |
| GEOG 370 Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG 380 Remote Sensing | 4 |
| GEOG 464 Geospatial Perspectives on Intelligence, Security and Ethics | 3 |
| GEOG 333 Environmental Justice | 3 |
| GEOG 407 Seminar | 1 |
Students also complete MTH 112Z and ST 351 (statistics), a writing course, and one course each in physical geography, climate or biogeography, human-environment geography, cultural geography and the geography of justice.
Elective Areas (24 credits)
Students take 24 elective credits, including at least four 400-level courses, from four groups:
- Advanced Geospatial Science: advanced GIS, spatial analysis and remote sensing
- Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
- Planning and Management of Environmental Change
- Promoting a Just and Equitable Society
Experiential Learning
The B.S. requires 9 credits of experiential learning, including GEOG 295 Geographic Field Research, GEOG 495 Field Geography Synthesis, and research or an internship. To meet residency rules, at least 45 of the last 75 credits must be taken at Oregon State.
Master’s Degree
The online M.S. is a 45-credit, non-thesis program that ends with a capstone project. Requirements come from the graduate catalog.
| Required course | Quarter credits |
|---|---|
| GEOG 511 History and Philosophy of Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 515 Problem Formulation in Geography and Geospatial Science | 3 |
| GEOG 560 GIScience I | 4 |
| GEOG 564 Geospatial Perspectives on Intelligence, Security and Ethics | 3 |
| GEOG 580 Remote Sensing I | 4 |
| GEOG 501 Research (capstone) | 7 |
| GEOG 507 Seminar | 1 |
The remaining 20 credits are electives: 8 in geospatial modeling and analysis, 6 in Earth system science and 6 in global change risk and resilience.
GIScience Certificates
| Certificate | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate GIScience | 27 quarter (18 semester) | Core in foundations of GIS, cartography, remote sensing and GIScience, plus 11–12 elective credits. Open to degree and non-degree students. |
| Graduate GIScience | 19 quarter | GEOG 560 and GEOG 580 plus 11 elective credits. All 19 credits apply to the M.S., which can leave about one year of remaining work. |
How the Online Format Works
- Asynchronous but term-based: no scheduled class meetings, but courses follow the quarter calendar with weekly deadlines. Quarters run 10 weeks plus finals week.
- ArcGIS Pro: three required B.S. courses use ArcGIS Pro, which does not run on a Mac. OSU provides a CEOAS Virtual Desktop as an alternative.
- Proctoring: some courses use Proctorio, which is free and needs a webcam and microphone.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s (Transfer Students)
- About a 2.25 transfer GPA
- At least 24 quarter or 16 semester credits
- WR 121 and college math equivalents with C- or better
- $65 application fee
- Semester credits convert at 1.5 quarter credits each
Master’s
- Bachelor’s degree
- No GRE required
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of objectives, résumé or CV, and transcripts
- Deadlines: January 5, 2027 (spring) and April 15, 2027 (fall)
The graduate certificate requires a 3.0 GPA, three references and an $85 application fee. Sources: transfer requirements, M.S. application and graduate certificate admission.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
| Program | Per credit | Total credits | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $409 | 180 quarter | About $73,600 with no transfer credit |
| M.S. | $609 | 45 quarter | About $27,400 |
| Graduate certificate | $609 | 19 quarter | About $11,600 |
| Undergraduate certificate | $409 | 27 quarter | About $11,000 |
Rates include a $15 per-credit distance education fee. New students also pay a one-time matriculation fee ($450 undergraduate, $380 graduate). Transfer credit lowers the bachelor’s total substantially. Sources: B.S. tuition and M.S. tuition.
Online students can use federal aid (FAFSA code 003210), Ecampus retention and hardship grants, and OSU’s ScholarDollars database of about 2,000 scholarships. CEOAS does not offer funding for the online M.S. Source: Ecampus financial aid.
Careers
Ecampus lists B.S. career paths such as geospatial logistics analyst, mapping technician and field surveyor. M.S. graduates go on to roles such as GIS analyst, remote sensing specialist, cartographer, photogrammetry technician, city planner and research associate. CEOAS reports that most graduate students are employed within six months of finishing.
Pros and Considerations
Strengths
- Heavy GIS, cartography and remote sensing training
- Same tuition for nonresidents
- Graduate certificate stacks fully into the M.S.
- No GRE for the M.S.; Ecampus ranks in the U.S. News top 10
Things to Consider
- ArcGIS Pro requires Windows or the virtual desktop
- Quarter system: credits look larger than semester credits
- No CEOAS funding for online M.S. students
- Higher undergraduate total than some flat-rate programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Oregon State charge out-of-state tuition for online geography?
No. Ecampus charges the same per-credit rate to residents and nonresidents: $409 undergraduate and $609 graduate.
Is the Oregon State online geography master’s a thesis program?
No. The online M.S. is a 45-credit, non-thesis program that ends with a capstone research project.
Do I need the GRE for Oregon State’s online geography master’s?
No. Applicants submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives, a résumé and transcripts.
Can I use a Mac for Oregon State’s GIS courses?
ArcGIS Pro does not run on a Mac, so students use a Windows computer or the CEOAS Virtual Desktop.
How do quarter credits compare to semester credits?
One semester credit equals 1.5 quarter credits. The 180-quarter-credit B.S. equals a typical 120-semester-credit degree.
Compare Oregon State with other schools in our online geography degree rankings, or see campus programs in Oregon.
Official Sources
We verified this profile against the following school pages in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with the school before you apply.
- Ecampus B.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science
- Ecampus M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science
- Catalog: B.S./H.B.S. requirements
- Catalog: M.S. requirements
- Undergraduate GIScience certificate
- Graduate GIScience certificate
- How to apply: online M.S.
- B.S. tuition
- M.S. tuition
- Ecampus financial aid
- Ecampus rankings
- Transfer admission requirements