Physical geography studies Earth’s natural systems: landforms, climate, water, soils and ecosystems. Geosciences is the broader umbrella that also includes geology, meteorology and oceanography. Online degrees in both fields cover the same core science, from earth systems and climate to hydrology and GIS.
This guide compares fully online geosciences, earth science and physical geography degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, including how each school handles labs and fieldwork. For general online geography and GIS degrees, see our online geography degree guide.
Physical Geography vs. Geosciences
- Physical geography sits in geography departments and focuses on landscapes, climate and environmental change, usually with GIS.
- Geosciences programs add geology, earth materials and atmospheric science, and often require more chemistry, physics and lab work.
- Both lead to similar jobs in environmental consulting, natural resources, water and climate. For specific fields, see our geomorphology and climatology guides.
Online Geosciences and Physical Geography Bachelor’s Degrees
Details come from each school’s official pages, checked in October 2026. Costs are per credit for online students.
| School | Degree | Credits | Cost per Credit | In-Person Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, NH | B.S. in Geosciences | 120 | $354 (2026–27) | None stated; lab kits mailed home |
| Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS | B.S. Geosciences (Geography or Applied Geology); B.A. Environmental Geosciences | 120 | $275.65 listed | None stated for Applied Geology; confirm Geography field course |
| Mississippi State UniversityStarkville, MS | B.S. Geosciences (Broadcast and Operational Meteorology) | 124 | $452 + $25 fee | None for the degree |
| University of Florida (UF Online)Gainesville, FL | B.A. Geology; B.A. Geography (Environmental Geosciences) | 120 | $129.18 FL; $552.62 nonresident (2025–26) | Optional in-person program (Geology) |
| Oregon State University (Ecampus)Corvallis, OR | B.S. Environmental Sciences (Earth Systems specialization) | 180 quarter | $409, all states (2026–27) | Not stated |
| Arizona State University (ASU Online)Tempe, AZ | B.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences | 120 | $580 base + fees | Not stated |
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU’s online B.S. in Geosciences is 120 credits in 8-week terms, with courses in physical geology, earth system science, atmospheric science, geostatistics and data analysis, and a geosciences capstone. Lab courses use kits mailed to your home and must be completed within the contiguous United States. Optional concentrations cover data analytics in science and natural resources and conservation. Tuition is $354 per credit for 2026–27 (SNHU tuition), and up to 90 transfer credits are accepted. See our SNHU online geosciences degree profile for courses, labs and costs.
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State offers three online geosciences degrees: a B.S. in Geosciences with a Geography emphasis that blends human and physical geography, a B.S. in Applied Geology where students take part in field and lab activities remotely, and a B.A. in Environmental Geosciences. Program pages list $275.65 per credit for all states; FHSU’s 2025–26 schedule lists $265.05 (FHSU Online tuition). See our Fort Hays State profile.
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State’s online B.S. in Geosciences is offered online in one concentration, Broadcast and Operational Meteorology, which includes climatology and severe weather courses. Tuition is $452 per credit plus a $25 per credit fee, the in-state rate for all students. Other Mississippi State geosciences concentrations, including geology, are campus only.
University of Florida (UF Online)
UF Online offers a B.A. in Geology with physical geology, earth materials and a Geology of Florida capstone, and a B.A. in Geography with an Environmental Geosciences specialization. Tuition is $129.18 per credit for Florida residents and $552.62 for nonresidents, as posted for 2025–26 (UF Online tuition). See our UF profile.
Oregon State University (Ecampus)
Oregon State’s online B.S. in Environmental Sciences, from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, offers an Earth Systems specialization. It costs $409 per credit for all students in 2026–27 (Ecampus rates). Oregon State also offers an online B.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science; see our Oregon State profile.
Arizona State University (ASU Online)
ASU’s online B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences runs in 7.5-week classes. ASU Online lists $580 per credit base tuition with no out-of-state surcharge, plus college and technology fees (ASU costs). See our ASU profile for its online geography degrees.
Online Geosciences Master’s Degrees
| School | Degree | Credits | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | M.S. Geosciences, Environmental Geosciences | 30 | $627.50/credit incl. fee; ~$18,825 | Non-thesis; no GRE; optional field course |
| Mississippi State | M.S. Geosciences, Applied Meteorology | 36 | ~$22,590 | No GRE; one MSU page mentions a campus visit |
| University of North Dakota | M.S. or M.E.M. in Earth System Science and Policy | 36 (M.S.) or 30 (M.E.M.) | Same rate for all residencies | Asynchronous |
| Penn State World Campus | M.Ed. in Earth Sciences | 30 | About $1,048/credit | For secondary science teachers |
Mississippi State’s Environmental Geosciences M.S. covers environmental geoscience, hydrology, climate change and GIS or remote sensing, and its faculty-led field trips are optional. Its pages conflict on whether the Applied Meteorology M.S. requires a short campus visit, so confirm with the department (online geosciences).
Labs and Fieldwork in Online Programs
- At-home lab kits: SNHU mails lab kits for chemistry, physics and geology courses.
- Remote field activities: Fort Hays State’s Applied Geology students take part in field and lab work remotely.
- Optional travel: UF Online geology and Mississippi State’s master’s offer optional in-person field experiences.
- Hybrid programs: the University of North Dakota’s online B.S. in Geology requires an in-person field camp, and its B.S. in Environmental Geoscience requires campus visits for summer labs.
Geosciences Careers and Salary
| Occupation | Median Pay (May 2025) | Job Growth (2025–35) | Typical Entry Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoscientists | $101,920 | 5% | Bachelor’s |
| Hydrologists | $96,600 | 1% | Bachelor’s |
| Environmental scientists and specialists | $82,220 | 6% | Bachelor’s |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. GIS and remote sensing skills strengthen any of these paths. See more options in our geography degree jobs guide.
Bottom Line
For a broad online geosciences bachelor’s with flexible 8-week terms, SNHU is the most direct option. Fort Hays State offers the lowest listed per-credit rate for all states and three online geosciences degrees, while UF Online is hard to beat for Florida residents. For graduate study, Mississippi State’s Environmental Geosciences M.S. is a fully online, non-thesis option with no GRE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a geosciences degree online?
Yes. SNHU, Fort Hays State, Mississippi State, UF Online, Oregon State and ASU offer online bachelor’s degrees in geosciences, geology or earth and environmental sciences.
Is physical geography the same as geosciences?
Physical geography is one part of the geosciences. It focuses on landforms, climate, water and ecosystems, while geosciences also includes geology, meteorology and oceanography.
How do online geosciences programs handle labs?
Many mail lab kits to students, run field activities remotely or offer optional field trips. Some, like the University of North Dakota’s geology degree, require an in-person field camp.
What is the cheapest online geosciences degree?
For Florida residents, UF Online at $129.18 per credit. For other states, Fort Hays State lists $275.65 per credit and SNHU $354 per credit.
What can you do with a geosciences degree?
Graduates work as geoscientists, hydrologists, environmental scientists and GIS analysts. BLS reports a May 2025 median salary of $101,920 for geoscientists.
Official Sources
We checked these official sources in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with each school before you apply.
- SNHU B.S. in Geosciences
- SNHU online tuition
- Fort Hays State B.S. Geosciences (Geography)
- Fort Hays State B.S. Applied Geology
- Fort Hays State B.A. Environmental Geosciences
- FHSU Online tuition
- Mississippi State online B.S. (Broadcast and Operational Meteorology)
- Mississippi State online geosciences
- Mississippi State M.S. Environmental Geosciences
- Mississippi State M.S. Applied Meteorology
- Mississippi State graduate catalog: Geosciences
- UF Online B.A. Geology
- UF Online B.A. Geography
- UF Online tuition
- Oregon State Ecampus B.S. Environmental Sciences
- Oregon State Ecampus tuition
- ASU Online B.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences
- ASU Online costs
- UND Earth System Science and Policy
- UND B.S. Geology
- UND B.S. Environmental Geoscience
- Penn State M.Ed. Earth Sciences
- Penn State World Campus tuition
- BLS: Geoscientists
- BLS: Hydrologists
- BLS: Environmental scientists and specialists