Maryland has 10 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials. They include 6 public universities in the University System of Maryland, 2 private universities, and 2 community colleges with GIS certificates or associate degrees. Doctoral study is at the University of Maryland, College Park and UMBC. Fully online options are graduate programs at the University of Maryland, Salisbury University, and Johns Hopkins.
Quick picks for Maryland
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: Frostburg State, $7,640 per year.
- Lowest-cost GIS credential: Montgomery College Cartography and GIS Certificate, $2,898 total at the in-county rate of $138 per credit.
- Online master’s degrees: University of Maryland (M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences, M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence), Salisbury (M.S. in GIS Management, $743 per credit including fees), and Johns Hopkins (M.S. in GIS).
- GIS-named bachelor’s degree: Towson (B.S. in Geographic Information Science).
- Ph.D. programs: University of Maryland (Geographical Sciences) and UMBC (Geography and Environmental Systems).
Rates are resident tuition before fees unless noted. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Maryland Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates at Universities
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geographical Sciences | Campus (College Park) | Major: 35, plus 15 supporting credits | Geospatial Data Science and Computational Earth Observation Science specializations; five-year B.S./M.S. |
| UMBC | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography and Environmental Studies B.S. in Environmental Science and Geography GIScience Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Catonsville) | B.A.: 48 minimum B.S.: 63 minimum Certificate: 21 minimum | Certificate can include a GIS internship |
| Towson University | B.S. or B.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning B.S. in Geographic Information Science Geography and Land Surveying major Geospatial Technologies Upper Division Certificate | Campus (Towson) | Majors: 39 / 53 / 39 geography units Certificate: 16 | GIS major built with the computer science department |
| Salisbury University | B.S. in Geography (six tracks, including Geographic Information Science) | Campus (Salisbury) | 120 | Accelerated B.S. (GIS Track) to M.S. in GIS Management |
| Frostburg State University | B.S. in Geography | On campus (Frostburg) | Major: 45–49 | Western Maryland Regional GIS Center and drone lab |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geographical Sciences Master of Science (M.S.) in Geospatial Information Sciences M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence Master of Professional Studies in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Graduate certificates in Geospatial Information Sciences, Geospatial Intelligence, and Remote Sensing | Ph.D.: campus Professional master’s and certificates: campus or 100% online (Remote Sensing in person only) | Master’s degrees: 30 each Certificates: 12 each | Evening professional programs that can be finished in 15 months; GRE not required |
| UMBC | M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Systems Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) in GIS Graduate Certificate in GIS | In person (Catonsville) | M.S.: 30 minimum M.P.S.: 30 Certificate: 18 | GRE not required for the M.S. and Ph.D. |
| Towson University | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography and Environmental Planning Geospatial Technologies Certificate (graduate) | Campus (Towson) | M.A.: 36 Certificate: 12 | Thesis or non-thesis M.A. |
| Salisbury University | M.S. in Geographic Information Systems Management | Fully online | 33–34 | Focus on managing GIS operations; 13 months full time |
| Johns Hopkins University | M.S. in Geographic Information Systems | Fully online | 30–32 | Required capstone; designed for students with little GIS background |
| Hood College | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Environmental Biology Certificate (graduate) | In person (Frederick), evening classes | 18 | GIS projects built into environmental biology courses |
| Bowie State University | Computer Science Certificate: Geographical Information Systems and Image Processing (post-baccalaureate) | Campus (Bowie), evening classes | 12 | Offered by the computer science department; calculus required for admission |
Community College GIS Credentials
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery College Rockville | Cartography and Geographic Information Systems Certificate Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Applied Geography | Certificate: 21 A.A.S.: 60 | Campus (Rockville); not on the college’s fully online list |
| Harford Community College Bel Air | Geospatial Technology Certificate A.A.S. in Geospatial Technology | Certificate: 20 A.A.S.: 60 | Not stated |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Units are semester credits. Minors are not listed. No Maryland community college lists a geography-named transfer degree or pathway in its 2026–27 catalog.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Maryland
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The programs below have an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online.
Verified fully online options
- University of Maryland, College Park: the M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences, the M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence, and their 12-credit graduate certificates each have a separate online version in the catalog. UMD says these programs are “available in-person and 100% online.” Classes meet in the evening and are broadcast live and recorded. The Master of Professional Studies in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare is described as fully online.
- Salisbury University: the M.S. in GIS Management. The catalog says “All courses are offered online only.”
- Johns Hopkins University: the M.S. in Geographic Information Systems. The catalog says the program “is fully online.”
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- UMD Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing: offered in person only, unlike UMD’s other geospatial certificates.
- UMD department description: the Department of Geographical Sciences describes its GIS courses as classroom courses “simultaneously broadcast online” and its geospatial intelligence program as hybrid. The catalog and Extended Studies list separate 100% online versions, so confirm which version you are applying to.
- Johns Hopkins Certificate in GIS and M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence: both are online, but the catalog says neither is currently accepting new students.
No Maryland bachelor’s degree or community college credential in geography or GIS is described as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Maryland School Summaries
University of Maryland, College Park
UMD’s Department of Geographical Sciences offers a B.S. in Geographical Sciences (there is no B.A.). The major has 35 credits plus 15 supporting credits, including calculus. Students can choose a Geospatial Data Science specialization, which requires GIS and Python geocomputing courses, or a Computational Earth Observation Science specialization. Juniors and seniors can earn internship credit. A combined five-year B.S./M.S. requires a 3.5 GPA; the department says the M.S. is now earned only through this combined program.
The Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences requires a faculty sponsor and an interview. The catalog lists 12-month assistantships starting at $36,118 with up to 10 credits of tuition remission per semester.
Through Extended Studies, UMD offers a 30-credit M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences and a 30-credit M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence, each ending in a professional project. Both have 12-credit graduate certificates whose credits can count toward the master’s. Classes meet in the evening, the GRE is not required, and full-time students can finish a master’s in 15 months. The geospatial intelligence programs are accredited by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) and run in 12-week terms. A 12-credit Remote Sensing certificate is in person only. UMD also offers a 30-credit, fully online Master of Professional Studies in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare with the School of Public Health.
Sources: Geographical Sciences B.S.; graduate catalog; M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences (online); GIS program page; M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence (online); GeoAI and Healthcare M.P.S..
UMBC
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Department of Geography and Environmental Systems offers a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies (48 credits minimum) and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Geography (63 credits minimum, including calculus, statistics, and lab sciences). The 21-credit undergraduate GIScience Certificate can include a GIS or cartography internship, and a 3.25 GPA in its courses earns the certificate “with Distinction.”
Graduate options are the M.S. (30 credits minimum, thesis or non-thesis) and Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Systems. The department does not require GRE scores, and applicants name a potential advisor. An accelerated B.S./M.S. lets seniors take up to 9 graduate credits. For working professionals, UMBC offers a 30-credit, non-thesis M.P.S. in GIS and an 18-credit Graduate Certificate in GIS, both in person in Catonsville.
Sources: Geography B.A.; B.S.; GIScience certificate; graduate programs; M.P.S. in GIS; GIS graduate certificate.
Towson University
Towson’s Department of Geography and Environmental Planning offers three majors, each leading to a B.S. or, with intermediate foreign language, a B.A. The Geography and Environmental Planning major (39 units) requires an introductory geospatial technology course and a methods course. The Geographic Information Science major (53 units) was built with the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and adds programming and database courses. The Geography and Land Surveying major is designed for students who first complete the A.A.S. in Engineering Technology (Land Surveying) at the Community College of Baltimore County. A 16-unit undergraduate Geospatial Technologies Upper Division Certificate is open to Towson students and bachelor’s degree holders.
The 36-unit M.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning has thesis and non-thesis options, with GIS and cartography available as electives. An accelerated bachelor’s-to-M.A. route counts 9 graduate units toward both degrees. The 12-unit graduate Geospatial Technologies Certificate covers remote sensing and GIS, with electives in GIS database design and Python scripting.
Sources: Geography and Environmental Planning major; GIScience major; Land Surveying major; M.A.; graduate certificate.
Salisbury University
Salisbury’s B.S. in Geography has a nine-course core and six tracks: General, Climatology, Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Meteorology. The GIS track adds a programming course and advanced GIS and remote sensing courses. Students in the GIS track can start graduate courses in their senior year and finish the M.S. in GIS Management in one more year.
The M.S. in Geographic Information Systems Management requires at least 33–34 credits, including finance and public administration courses, and focuses on managing GIS operations. All courses are online, full-time students can finish in 13 months starting in summer, and the coursework meets the education requirements for GIS Professional (GISP) certification. One per-credit rate, which includes fees, applies regardless of residency.
Sources: Geography B.S., GIS Track; accelerated B.S./M.S.; M.S. GIS Management catalog; M.S. program page.
Frostburg State University
Frostburg’s B.S. in Geography has a 24-credit core, including Introduction to Geospatial Science and Technology, Cartography, and a capstone, plus distribution courses for a 45–49 credit major. The 2026–27 catalog lists a Global Systems Analysis concentration; the department also describes Mapping Science and Climate System Science concentrations. The department runs the Western Maryland Regional GIS Center and a drone and remote sensing lab.
Sources: Geography B.S.; Frostburg catalogs.
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins offers a fully online M.S. in Geographic Information Systems through Advanced Academic Programs in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. The 30–32 credit degree has one required core course, three core courses chosen by the student, six electives, and a required capstone. Applicants need one semester of statistics, and the program is designed for students with little or no GIS background. Johns Hopkins’ GIS certificate and M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence are not currently accepting new students. Tuition is not published in the catalog.
Sources: M.S. in GIS catalog; GIS certificate catalog.
Hood College
Hood’s 18-credit graduate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Environmental Biology Certificate requires two GIS courses and three 1-credit modules in GIS mapping, GIS analysis, and remote sensing. The other 9 credits are environmental courses taken with a GIS option, each requiring a major GIS project or paper. Classes are small and meet in the evening in Frederick, and Hood says students typically finish in 9–12 months.
Sources: certificate catalog; program page.
Bowie State University
Bowie State’s Department of Computer Science offers a 12-credit post-baccalaureate Computer Science Certificate in Geographical Information Systems and Image Processing. Students choose four courses from introductory and advanced GIS, remote sensing, image processing, and related topics. Admission requires two semesters of calculus, another math course, and a graduate computer science prerequisite. Classes meet in the evening, and students have up to five years to finish.
Sources: certificate catalog.
Montgomery College
Montgomery College’s Applied Geography program on the Rockville campus offers a 21-credit Cartography and Geographic Information Systems Certificate and a 60-credit A.A.S. in Applied Geography. The A.A.S. combines geography, cartography, geographic education, and GIS, with required cartography and imagery courses. Students use the college’s Cartography and GIS Lab in Rockville. The program also offers a 19-credit Geographic Education Certificate.
Sources: Cartography and GIS Certificate; Applied Geography A.A.S.; 2026–27 catalog.
Harford Community College
Harford offers a 20-credit Geospatial Technology Certificate that stacks into a 60-credit A.A.S. in Geospatial Technology. Both cover GIS, remote sensing and GPS, advanced GIS, and a geospatial project course. A.A.S. electives include drone pilot training, Python, CADD, and a geography internship. Harford lists Salisbury and Towson as top transfer destinations.
Sources: Geospatial Technology A.A.S.; certificate; program page.
Schools not included
- University of Maryland Global Campus has no GIS or geography credential in its 2026–27 catalog; GIS appears only as individual courses.
- Morgan State offers a geography minor and a Master of City and Regional Planning in which GIS is an elective, not a requirement. Washington College offers a GIS minor only.
- Coppin State, UMES, University of Baltimore, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, McDaniel, Goucher, Loyola, Stevenson, Notre Dame of Maryland, Mount St. Mary’s, Capitol Technology, and Washington Adventist have no geography or GIS credential.
- Not accepting students: the Community College of Baltimore County suspended its Advanced Geospatial Applications Certificate and Geospatial Applications concentration in fall 2024. Frederick Community College discontinued its GIS-Public Safety Letter of Recognition.
- Other community colleges: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Carroll, Cecil, Chesapeake, Southern Maryland, Garrett, Hagerstown, Howard, Prince George’s, and Wor-Wic offer GIS or geography courses but no GIS-named credential.
Tuition Comparison
Estimated tuition is our arithmetic from each published rate and the stated basis. Each figure is labeled “per year” or “total.” None includes fees, housing, books, or other costs unless the row says so.
Undergraduate and associate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg State B.S. in Geography | $7,640 per year (Maryland) $17,198 per year (regional) $23,306 per year (out-of-state) | Full-time academic year | $7,640 resident per year $23,306 nonresident per year | $3,138 per year in mandatory fees |
| Towson University Bachelor’s degrees | $3,995 per term (in-state) $14,124 per term (out-of-state) | Two terms | $7,990 resident per year $28,248 nonresident per year | $4,700 per year ($2,350 per term) |
| Salisbury University B.S. in Geography | $8,176 per year (resident) $20,300 per year (nonresident) | Full-time academic year | $8,176 resident per year $20,300 nonresident per year | $3,290 per year in mandatory fees |
| UMBC Bachelor’s degrees | $4,998.50 per semester (resident) $15,100 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $9,997 resident per year $30,200 nonresident per year | $4,104 per year ($2,052 per semester) |
| University of Maryland, College Park B.S. in Geographical Sciences | $5,507.50 per semester (resident) $21,133 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $11,015 resident per year $42,266 nonresident per year | $1,820 per year ($910 per semester) |
| Montgomery College Applied Geography A.A.S. and Cartography and GIS Certificate | $138 per credit (in-county) $281 per credit (out-of-county Maryland) $392 per credit (out-of-state) | A.A.S. 60 credits; certificate 21 credits | A.A.S.: $8,280 in-county total; $16,860 out-of-county total; $23,520 out-of-state total Certificate: $2,898 in-county total; $5,901 out-of-county total; $8,232 out-of-state total | Consolidated fee of 20% of tuition (minimum $50 per term), plus $19 per credit in facilities, technology, and transportation fees |
| Harford Community College Geospatial Technology A.A.S. and Certificate | $146 per credit (Harford County) $270 per credit (other Maryland) $370 per credit (out-of-state) | A.A.S. 60 credits; certificate 20 credits | A.A.S.: $8,760 in-county total; $16,200 other Maryland total; $22,200 out-of-state total Certificate: $2,920 in-county total; $5,400 other Maryland total; $7,400 out-of-state total | $29.20 per credit consolidated service fee; course fees vary |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise. UMBC labels its 2026–27 undergraduate rates as proposed at the time of publication.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences, M.S. in Geospatial Intelligence, and their certificates | $977 per credit, same for residents and nonresidents | Master’s 30 credits; certificates 12 credits | Master’s: $29,310 total Certificate: $11,724 total | Campus fee of $382.50 (8 or fewer credits) or $738 (9 or more) per fall or spring semester; $40 lab fee per course |
| University of Maryland, College Park M.P.S. in Geospatial AI and Healthcare | $1,050 per credit, same for residents and nonresidents | 30 credits | $31,500 total | Not stated |
| University of Maryland, College Park Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences | $913 per credit (resident) $1,916 per credit (nonresident) | 18 credits per year (9 per semester) | $16,434 resident per year $34,488 nonresident per year | $738 per semester at 9 or more credits; assistantships include up to 10 credits of tuition remission per semester |
| UMBC M.P.S. in GIS, M.S. in Geography and Environmental Systems, Graduate Certificate in GIS | $818 per credit (resident) $1,405 per credit (nonresident) | Master’s 30 credits; certificate 18 credits | Master’s: $24,540 resident total; $42,150 nonresident total Certificate: $14,724 resident total; $25,290 nonresident total | $190 per credit; $100 matriculation fee in each of the first two semesters |
| Towson University M.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning; Geospatial Technologies Certificate | $586 per unit (resident) $1,212 per unit (nonresident) | M.A. 36 units; certificate 12 units | M.A.: $21,096 resident total; $43,632 nonresident total Certificate: $7,032 resident total; $14,544 nonresident total | $188 per unit, with per-term caps |
| Salisbury University M.S. in GIS Management | $743 per credit, including tuition and fees, same for residents and nonresidents | 33 credits (catalog minimum 33–34) | $24,519 total | Included in the rate |
| Johns Hopkins University M.S. in GIS | Not verified | 30–32 credits | Not verified | Technology fee for online courses (amount not verified); $100 graduation fee |
| Hood College GIS in Environmental Biology Certificate | $535 per credit | 18 credits | $9,630 total | $145 comprehensive fee per fall or spring term; $88 per summer or winter term |
| Bowie State University GIS and Image Processing Certificate | $475 per credit (in-state, part-time) $760 per credit (out-of-state, part-time) | 12 credits | $5,700 resident total $9,120 nonresident total | About $151 per credit in mandatory fees, plus $15.50 per semester |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Mandatory fees vary widely among the public universities, from $1,820 per year at UMD to $4,700 at Towson. Add them before comparing totals.
- UMD’s professional geospatial programs and Salisbury’s M.S. in GIS Management charge one rate regardless of residency. Salisbury’s rate already includes fees.
- Maryland community colleges charge three tiers: residents of the college’s county or service area, other Maryland residents, and out-of-state students.
- Frostburg charges a regional rate to students from nearby areas outside Maryland; check eligibility with the university.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Maryland
Broad geography or technical GIS
Frostburg, Salisbury, UMBC, and Towson’s Geography and Environmental Planning major cover physical and human geography with GIS courses. More technical options include Towson’s B.S. in Geographic Information Science, Salisbury’s GIS track, and UMD’s Geospatial Data Science specialization. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology, or compare bachelor’s programs nationally.
Starting at a community college
Montgomery College and Harford Community College offer the only active community college GIS credentials in Maryland. Their certificates cost about $2,900 in tuition for county residents, and both have 60-credit A.A.S. degrees. Students who plan to transfer should confirm which courses a university will accept.
Master’s or Ph.D.
UMD and UMBC are the only Maryland schools with a geography Ph.D. UMD now awards its research M.S. only through its five-year B.S./M.S. program, so most master’s students choose a professional degree: UMD’s geospatial master’s degrees, UMBC’s M.P.S. in GIS, Salisbury’s M.S. in GIS Management, or Johns Hopkins’ M.S. in GIS. UMBC’s M.S. and Towson’s M.A. offer thesis options. See master’s programs.
Online or campus
All of Maryland’s fully online geography and GIS options are graduate programs. UMD’s online geospatial master’s degrees meet live in the evening, while Salisbury’s and Johns Hopkins’ are online-only programs. Bachelor’s and community college credentials in the state are campus-based. See online geography schools for programs in other states.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 14, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule unless a row notes otherwise.
- University System of Maryland universities: UMD undergraduate tuition, UMD graduate tuition, UMD geospatial programs tuition, UMD GeoAI and Healthcare tuition, UMBC undergraduate tuition, UMBC graduate tuition, Towson tuition, Towson graduate tuition, Salisbury 2026–27 tuition schedule (PDF), Frostburg tuition, Bowie State graduate tuition
- Private universities: Johns Hopkins AAP tuition and fees, Hood graduate tuition
- Community colleges: Montgomery College 2026–27 tuition and fee schedule (PDF), Harford tuition and fees, Maryland Higher Education Commission program inventory
Program-level source links appear at the end of each school summary. Programs, rates, and requirements change, so confirm them with each school before applying.