Michigan has 24 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 14 public universities, 2 private universities, and 8 community colleges. Michigan State University offers the state’s only geography Ph.D. Fully online options include GIS master’s degrees at Calvin University and Michigan Technological University, plus several certificates.
Quick picks for Michigan
- Lowest resident geography bachelor’s tuition: Saginaw Valley State University, $14,280 per year.
- Same rate for out-of-state students: Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Ferris State.
- Online GIS master’s degrees: Calvin University ($21,600 total) and Michigan Technological University ($43,440 total).
- Lowest-cost GIS certificate: Schoolcraft College, $2,574 resident total for 18 credits.
- Only geography Ph.D. in the state: Michigan State University.
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Michigan Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography | Campus (East Lansing) | 120 (geography 30 minimum) | B.S. concentrations include Earth Observation and Geospatial Analytics |
| Western Michigan University | Majors in Geographic Information Science; Environmental Geography; and Urban, Regional and Environmental Planning | Campus (Kalamazoo) | Major: 32 each | Three separate majors in one school |
| Central Michigan University | Geography major (B.A. or B.S.), with optional GIScience or Urban and Community Planning concentration Cartographic Design Certificate | On campus (Mount Pleasant) | Major: 37, 46, or 42 Certificate: 15 | Required capstone; Python course in the GIScience concentration |
| Eastern Michigan University | B.S. in Geography B.S. in Geospatial Information Science and Technology Geospatial Technologies and Applications Certificate | In person and hybrid (Ypsilanti) | B.S.: 120 (major 50–52 or 63–66) Certificate: 15–18 | STEM-designated geospatial B.S. with five concentrations |
| Grand Valley State University | B.A. or B.S. in Geography (four emphases) GIS and Technology Certificate Environmental Remote Sensing Certificate | Face to face (Allendale) | B.A./B.S.: 120 Certificates: 13 and 12 minimum | Senior thesis required |
| Northern Michigan University | B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology GIS Certificate | Not stated (Marquette) | B.S.: 120 (major 50) Certificate: 30 | Capstone course; surveying and programming electives |
| Michigan Technological University | B.S. in Geospatial Engineering | Campus (Houghton) | 124 | ABET-accredited under surveying and geomatics criteria |
| Ferris State University | B.S. in Surveying Engineering Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Surveying Technology GIS Certificate | Degrees: campus (Big Rapids) GIS Certificate: in person or online | B.S. major: 66 A.A.S.: 60 GIS Certificate: 6 | ABET-accredited surveying degree |
| Saginaw Valley State University | B.A. in Geography GIS Certificate | Not stated (University Center) | Major: 39 Certificate: 15 | Certificate ends in an internship or project |
| Wayne State University | B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning (planning degree with required GIS) | Not stated (Detroit) | 120 (major 34 minimum) | Senior capstone research |
| University of Michigan–Dearborn | Geospatial Analysis and Mapping Certificate | Evening and hybrid (Dearborn) | 20 | Open to non-degree students |
| University of Michigan–Flint | GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate GIS Fundamentals Certificate | Full certificate: mostly online Fundamentals: online | 18 11 | Fundamentals certificate stacks into the full certificate |
| Lake Superior State University | Associate degree in Geospatial Technology GIS Certificate | Not stated (Sault Ste. Marie) | Associate: 60 Certificate: 13 | Includes a GeoAI and Python course |
| Calvin University | B.A. in Environmental Sustainability and Geography, Geography concentration GIScience Certificate | On campus (Grand Rapids) | Major: 44 Certificate: 12 | Senior seminar; city planning and remote sensing electives |
| Aquinas College | B.S. in Geography | Not stated (Grand Rapids) | 120 (major 37) | Research methods course and senior research seminar |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Campus (East Lansing) | M.S.: 30 Ph.D.: 56 minimum | Thesis or non-thesis M.S.; GRE not required for the Ph.D. |
| Western Michigan University | M.S. in Geography Graduate Certificate in GIScience Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Applications of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems | Campus (Kalamazoo) | M.S.: 30 Certificates: 15 and 9 | Thesis or independent research; GRE not required |
| Eastern Michigan University | M.S. in Geographic Information Systems GIS for Professionals Graduate Certificate GIS for Educators Graduate Certificate | In person and HyFlex (Ypsilanti) | M.S.: 36 Certificates: 15 and 12 | Internship, with portfolio or thesis alternatives |
| Michigan Technological University | Master of Geographic Information Science (MGIS) Five geospatial graduate certificates | Campus or online | MGIS: 30 Certificates: 9 each | Online degree built from three stackable certificates |
| Calvin University | M.S. in Geographic Information Science GIScience Graduate Certificate GIS Graduate Certificate for Local Government | Fully online | M.S.: 30 Certificates: 12 and 17 | Asynchronous; no GRE or prior GIS background required |
| Wayne State University | Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences | Not stated (Detroit) | 12 minimum | Electives in remote sensing, spatial statistics, and programming |
| University of Michigan | Graduate Certificate in Spatial Analysis (for enrolled U-M graduate students) | Campus (Ann Arbor) | 12 | Focus on applied remote sensing or GIS and spatial analysis |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs or program pages. Minors are not listed.
Community College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing Community College | Geospatial Science Technician A.A.S. Geospatial Science Certificate Geography associate degree | 60 31 60 | Online, in person, and hybrid courses |
| Bay College | GIS A.A.S. | 61 | Not stated (Escanaba) |
| North Central Michigan College | GIS A.A.S. | 60–62 | Not stated (Petoskey) |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Surveying A.A.S., with GIS and remote sensing courses | 60–61 | Not stated (Traverse City) |
| Lake Michigan College | Geospatial Information Science and Technology Certificate | 24 | Campus, with a separate online version |
| Schoolcraft College | GIS Skills Certificate | 18–21 | Not stated (Livonia) |
| Grand Rapids Community College | Pre-Geography Associate of Arts (A.A.) | 61 | Main campus, Lakeshore campus, and online |
| Alpena Community College | A.A., Geography concentration | 61 | Not stated (Alpena) |
Michigan has no statewide transfer pathway specific to geography. The transfer associate degrees above can include the Michigan Transfer Agreement, a 30-credit general education block accepted by participating universities. Lansing Community College also has a 2+2 arrangement with Michigan State for its geospatial A.A.S.
Related Urban Planning Programs
These planning degrees include GIS coursework but are not geography or GIS degrees.
- Michigan State University: B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning (120 credits) and a 43-credit Master in Urban and Regional Planning, each with a GIS course and a practicum.
- University of Michigan: 48-credit Master of Urban and Regional Planning, with a Planning Analytics focus area.
- Wayne State University: 48-credit Master of Urban Planning, taught in the evening, with GIS as an elective.
- Eastern Michigan University: B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning (36-credit major), including Principles of GIS.
See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Michigan
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
- Calvin University: the 30-credit M.S. in Geographic Information Science and two graduate GIS certificates are fully online and asynchronous, with no campus residency.
- Michigan Technological University: the 30-credit Master of Geographic Information Science is offered as an online, coursework-based degree. Three natural resources GIS and remote sensing certificates are offered online, and the Advanced Photogrammetry and Mapping with UAS certificate can be earned fully online.
- Ferris State University: the 6-credit GIS Certificate is available in person or online.
- University of Michigan–Flint: the catalog describes the 11-credit GIS Fundamentals Certificate as an online certificate.
- Lake Michigan College: the 24-credit Geospatial Information Science and Technology Certificate has a separate online version.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Michigan State University onGEO certificates: the Professional GIS Certificate and the Professional Geospatial Data Analytics and Visualization Certificate are fully online, but they are non-credit programs that award continuing education units, not academic credit. Michigan State also offers online sections of credit geography courses.
- University of Michigan–Flint GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate: the program page says most classes are online, with some mixed-mode or face-to-face.
- University of Michigan–Dearborn certificate: evening courses, several of them hybrid with labs on campus.
- Eastern Michigan University: programs are listed as in person with hybrid or HyFlex courses.
- Lansing Community College and Grand Rapids Community College: each lists online among its course formats or locations, without stating that the full credential can be completed online.
No Michigan school describes a geography bachelor’s degree as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Michigan School Summaries
Michigan State University
Michigan State’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences offers a B.A. and a B.S. in Geography. Both require at least 30 geography credits and end in a writing-intensive undergraduate seminar. The B.S. adds a 12-credit concentration in Earth Observation and Geospatial Analytics, Human-Environment and Economic Geography, or Physical Environment and Climate. An internship is encouraged but not required. For its online programs, see our Michigan State University Online GIS Certificates and Geography Courses profile.
The M.S. requires 30 credits, with a thesis plan or a non-thesis plan that ends in a final exam or evaluation. The Ph.D. requires at least 56 credits, including 24 of dissertation research. Applicants submit three letters, and the Ph.D. page says the GRE is no longer required. The department says it may offer assistantships when funding is available.
Michigan State’s onGEO professional certificates are non-credit. Each has four online core courses at $1,000 per course.
Sources: Geography B.A.; Geography B.S.; Geography M.S.; Geography Ph.D.; graduate application overview; onGEO certificates.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan’s School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability offers three 32-hour majors. The Geographic Information Science major requires Our Digital Earth, Fundamentals of GIS, Geographic Inquiry, Remote Sensing, and an advanced course such as GIS Projects and Programming or Internet GIS. The Environmental Geography and Urban, Regional and Environmental Planning majors share the same base, and the planning major adds a planning studio.
The M.S. in Geography requires at least 30 hours, including Spatial Analysis, Geographic Research, and six hours of thesis or independent research. The GRE is not required. Applicants who apply by February 15 are considered for assistantships, which are awarded competitively.
Two graduate certificates are offered: GIScience (15 hours) and Geospatial Applications of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (9 hours). The school says certificate students are not offered assistantships.
Sources: GIScience major; planning major; M.S. in Geography; M.S. program page; GIScience certificate; certificates page.
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan offers a 37-hour Geography major for the B.A. or B.S., including Introduction to GIScience and a capstone. The 46-hour GIScience concentration adds GIS, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, statistics, a Python course, and 15 hours of advanced electives. The 42-hour Urban and Community Planning concentration adds Introductory Urban Planning and a planning capstone.
A 15-hour Cartographic Design Certificate combines two art courses with GIS and Advanced Cartography.
Sources: Geography major; GIScience concentration; planning concentration; Cartographic Design certificate.
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan offers two geography-related bachelor’s degrees. The B.S. in Geography includes Principles of GIS, Spatial Analysis, and Cartographic Design and Visualization, with a concentration such as Geospatial Techniques or Physical Geography. The B.S. in Geospatial Information Science and Technology is STEM-designated and adds Field Geography, remote sensing, Geodatabases, GIS Projects, and GIS Customization and Programming. Its concentrations include Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Geoscience, and Criminology.
The 36-hour M.S. in Geographic Information Systems includes a GIS project, programming courses, and an internship. Students already working in GIS can substitute a portfolio, and a six-credit thesis is possible. The GRE is required only for applicants with a GPA below 2.75. Assistantships are awarded competitively.
Certificates include an undergraduate Geospatial Technologies and Applications Certificate (15–18 hours) and graduate certificates in GIS for Professionals (15) and GIS for Educators (12).
Sources: Geography B.S.; Geospatial Information Science and Technology B.S.; GIS M.S.; GIS for Professionals certificate.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley’s B.A. or B.S. in Geography has a 12-credit core that includes Computer Cartography and a required senior thesis. Students can choose an emphasis in Geospatial Technology; Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning; Environment and Global Development; or Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resiliency Planning. The Geospatial Technology emphasis includes Introduction to GIS, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Advanced GIS, and Digital Image Processing.
Undergraduate certificates include GIS and Technology (13 credits minimum) and Environmental Remote Sensing (12 minimum). Grand Valley has no graduate geography program.
Sources: Geography B.A. or B.S.; GIS certificate; remote sensing certificate.
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan offers a B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology. The 50-credit major includes GIS, Cartographic Design, Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, a computer science course, and a capstone. Electives lean toward surveying and landscape analysis or toward programming and data. A 30-credit GIS Certificate is also offered.
Northern has no GIS master’s degree. Its 32-credit M.S. in Sustainability has a Spatial Data Science track with GIS and remote sensing courses.
Sources: GIS and Technology B.S.; GIS certificate; Sustainability M.S..
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Tech has no geography department. Its 124-credit B.S. in Geospatial Engineering is accredited by ABET under surveying and geomatics criteria and ends in senior design. It is offered only on campus.
The 30-credit Master of Geographic Information Science has thesis, report, and coursework-only options. The online version is coursework-based and built from three stackable 9-credit certificates. The GRE is not required. The department says students should plan to fund their own studies, with assistantships awarded competitively.
Five 9-credit graduate certificates cover GIS and remote sensing for natural resources, photogrammetry and mapping with drones, and geoinformatics.
Sources: Geospatial Engineering B.S.; MGIS department page; online MGIS; GIS certificate; photogrammetry certificate.
Ferris State University
Ferris State has no geography major. Its ABET-accredited B.S. in Surveying Engineering includes Photogrammetry, Geodesy, Principles of GIS, and Remote Sensing, and ends in a two-course applied research project. A 60-credit A.A.S. in Surveying Technology is also offered.
The GIS Certificate is two courses, Fundamentals of GIS and GIS 2, for 6 credits.
Sources: Surveying Engineering B.S.; GIS certificate.
Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley’s B.A. in Geography requires 39 credits in the major, including Geographic Information Systems, Research Methods, and Geographic and Environmental Inquiry. Electives include Remote Sensing and Advanced GIS. A minor outside the department is required.
The 15-credit GIS Certificate covers GIS, remote sensing, and their advanced courses, and ends in an internship or project.
Sources: Geography B.A.; GIS certificate; department page.
Wayne State University
Wayne State has no geography degree. Its Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences of at least 12 credits. It requires a 4-credit GIS course, with electives in advanced GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, and programming. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA and two letters.
The B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning requires Introduction to GIS and a senior capstone research course.
Sources: GIS graduate certificate; Urban Studies and Planning B.A..
University of Michigan
The Ann Arbor campus has no geography department. Its School for Environment and Sustainability offers a 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Spatial Analysis, open only to students already enrolled in a University of Michigan master’s or Ph.D. program. The school’s M.S. also has a Geospatial Data Sciences specialization, which is a field of study within the degree and not a separately named credential.
Sources: Spatial Analysis certificate; Geospatial Data Sciences specialization.
University of Michigan–Dearborn
Dearborn offers a 20-credit Geospatial Analysis and Mapping Certificate: Mapping Our World, Introduction to GIS, and Advanced GIS, plus 8 credits from Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis and GIS, an internship, or research. Most courses meet in the evening. Geography itself is offered only as a minor.
Sources: certificate catalog; program page.
University of Michigan–Flint
Flint offers two undergraduate GIS certificates. The 11-credit GIS Fundamentals Certificate covers Mapping and Spatial Data Science, Remote Sensing of the Environment, and Introduction to GIS. The 18-credit GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate adds Geographic Information Analysis and an elective. Either can be earned alongside a degree or on its own, though stand-alone students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Sources: GIS and Geospatial Technology certificate; GIS Fundamentals certificate; program page.
Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State offers an associate degree in Geospatial Technology. Required courses include Introduction to GIS and GPS, Intermediate GIS, Geospatial Analysis, GeoAI and Python for Spatial Data, and Remote Sensing and Spatial Statistics. A minor is required. A 13-credit GIS Certificate uses the same core courses.
Sources: Geospatial Technology associate; GIS certificate.
Calvin University
Calvin has no standalone geography major. The Geography concentration of its B.A. in Environmental Sustainability and Geography requires 44 hours, including GIS and Cartography, Geomorphology, Urban Geography, and a senior seminar. A 12-hour undergraduate GIScience certificate is also offered on campus.
The online M.S. in Geographic Information Science is seven courses for 30 hours, covering advanced GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, business location intelligence, and geospatial programming. It has no thesis, and Calvin says no GRE or prior GIS background is required. Two online graduate certificates are offered: GIScience (12 hours) and GIS for Local Government (17 hours).
Sources: B.A. program page; M.S. program page; graduate certificate; local government certificate.
Aquinas College
Aquinas offers a B.S. in Geography with a 37-hour major. Required courses are Earth Systems, Human Geography, Urban Geography, Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, and Research Methods in Geography, followed by a senior research seminar. Remote Sensing is an elective.
Sources: Geography program page; 2026–27 catalog.
Community Colleges
Lansing Community College offers a 60-credit Geospatial Science Technician A.A.S., a 31-credit Geospatial Science Certificate with drone courses, and a 60-credit geography associate degree. Bay College and North Central Michigan College each offer a GIS A.A.S. with a required internship or work-based learning course. Northwestern Michigan College offers a Surveying A.A.S. that includes Introduction to GIS and a remote sensing course.
Lake Michigan College offers a 24-credit geospatial certificate of eight courses, and Schoolcraft College an 18–21 credit GIS Skills Certificate. Grand Rapids Community College and Alpena Community College offer geography transfer associate degrees.
Sources: Lansing geospatial science; Bay College GIS; North Central GIS; Northwestern surveying; Lake Michigan College online certificate; Schoolcraft GIS certificate; Grand Rapids Pre-Geography; Alpena geography concentration; Michigan Transfer Agreement.
Schools not included
- Michigan State University lists its B.S. and M.S. in Geographic Information Science and its M.A. in Geography as discontinued.
- Central Michigan University: the M.S. in Geographic Information Sciences and the Health GIS graduate certificate do not appear in the 2026–27 Graduate Bulletin.
- Michigan Technological University: the M.S. in Integrated Geospatial Technology is not in current program listings.
- Not accepting students: Western Michigan’s Community and Regional Planning major, Flint’s Urban Science B.S., and Ferris State’s Advanced GIS certificate.
- Minor only: Oakland University and Albion College offer a GIS minor but no degree or certificate.
- No geography or GIS credential: Hope, Kalamazoo, Alma, and Hillsdale colleges; Andrews, Detroit Mercy, Lawrence Technological, Madonna, and Davenport universities.
- Community colleges: Macomb’s land surveying programs are not in the 2026–27 catalog. Henry Ford and Mott list geography as a pathway within a general A.A., without a separate catalog program.
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.
Undergraduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University Geography B.A. and B.S. | $8,828 per semester for freshmen; $10,012 for juniors and seniors (resident, 12–18 credits) $22,520 and $23,188 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | Resident: $17,656 per year (freshman); $20,024 per year (junior or senior) Nonresident: $45,040 per year; $46,376 per year | About $208 per semester |
| Western Michigan University Geography majors | $8,226.00 per semester up to 55 credits earned; $9,024.50 after (resident, 12–15 credits) $10,477.00 and $11,494.00 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | Resident: $16,452 per year; $18,049 per year Nonresident: $20,954 per year; $22,988 per year | $70 per semester |
| Central Michigan University Geography major | $519 per credit under 56 credits; $575 per credit after (all U.S. residents) | 30 credits per year | $15,570 per year (lower level) $17,250 per year (upper level) | $230 per semester |
| Eastern Michigan University Geography and geospatial B.S. | $8,550.00 per semester, 12–16 credits (no nonresident rate) | Two semesters | $17,100 per year | $225 per semester; $60 per credit on upper-level arts and sciences courses |
| Grand Valley State University Geography B.A. or B.S. | $8,260 per semester lower division; $8,626 upper division (resident, 12–15 credits) $11,746 and $12,092 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | Resident: $16,520 per year; $17,252 per year Nonresident: $23,492 per year; $24,184 per year | No mandatory fees listed |
| Northern Michigan University GIS and Technology B.S. | $7,618 per semester lower division; $7,978 upper division (resident, 12–16 credits) $10,366 and $10,852 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters; the flat rate includes a $466 university fee | Resident: $15,236 per year; $15,956 per year Nonresident: $20,732 per year; $21,704 per year | $51 per semester; $31 per credit on geography courses |
| Michigan Technological University Geospatial Engineering B.S. | $10,198 per semester (resident, 12–18 credits) $23,147 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $20,396 resident per year $46,294 nonresident per year | $191 per semester |
| Ferris State University Surveying Engineering B.S. | $534 per credit for freshmen and sophomores; $582 for juniors and seniors (all U.S. residents) | 30 credits per year | $16,020 per year (freshman or sophomore) $17,460 per year (junior or senior) | $5 per credit |
| Saginaw Valley State University Geography B.A. | $7,140 per semester (resident, 12–18 credits) $12,000 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $14,280 resident per year $24,000 nonresident per year | None for freshmen and sophomores |
| Wayne State University Urban Studies and Planning B.A. | $7,094.17 per semester lower division; $8,419.08 upper division (resident, 12–18 credits) $16,248.87 and $19,359.95 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | Resident: $14,188.34 per year; $16,838.16 per year Nonresident: $32,497.74 per year; $38,719.90 per year | $300.12 per semester, plus $48.27 per credit |
| Lake Superior State University Geospatial Technology associate | $7,848.00 per semester, 12–16 credits (one rate for all students) | Two semesters | $15,696 per year | $150 per semester, plus $30 per credit for course materials unless the student opts out |
| University of Michigan–Dearborn Geospatial Analysis and Mapping Certificate | $686 per credit (resident) $1,463 per credit (nonresident) | 20 credits, part-time | $13,720 resident total $29,260 nonresident total | $200 per term; $31 per credit on 300- and 400-level courses |
| University of Michigan–Flint GIS certificates | $612.25 per credit, lower division (in-state) $1,169.75 per credit (out-of-state) | 11 or 18 credits | 11 credits: $6,734.75 in-state total; $12,867.25 out-of-state total 18 credits: $11,020.50 in-state total; $21,055.50 out-of-state total | $389 per semester; $90 per credit on GIS courses |
| Calvin University B.A., Geography concentration | $42,120 per year (12–18 credits) | One academic year | $42,120 per year | No general fee listed |
| Aquinas College Geography B.S. | $21,420 per semester (12–20 hours) | Two semesters | $42,840 per year | $400 per semester |
| Lansing Community College Geospatial Science Technician A.A.S. | $122 per billing hour (in-district) $244 (in-state) $366 (out-of-state) | 72 billing hours | $8,784 in-district total $17,568 in-state total $26,352 out-of-state total | $25 per semester, plus $15 per billing hour |
| Schoolcraft College GIS Skills Certificate | $143 per credit (resident) $206 (non-resident) $270 (out-of-state) | 18 credits | $2,574 resident total $3,708 non-resident total $4,860 out-of-state total | $44 per semester, plus $29 per credit |
| Bay College GIS A.A.S. | $165 per contact hour (Delta County) $283 (Michigan in-state) $347 (out-of-state) | 63 contact hours | $10,395 Delta County total $17,829 in-state total $21,861 out-of-state total | $49 per contact hour |
| North Central Michigan College GIS A.A.S. | $157 per contact hour (in-district) $270 (in-state) $340 (out-of-state) | 65 contact hours (program range 65–70) | $10,205 in-district total $17,550 in-state total $22,100 out-of-state total | Not itemized by the college |
| Alpena Community College A.A., Geography concentration | $165 per contact hour (in-district) $262 (out-of-district) | 64 contact hours | $10,560 in-district total $16,768 out-of-district total | $20 per contact hour, plus $30 per semester |
| Grand Rapids, Northwestern Michigan, and Lake Michigan colleges | Grand Rapids: $130 per contact hour (resident) Northwestern, surveying courses: $163 per contact hour (in-district) Lake Michigan: $192.50 per contact hour (all U.S. students) | Program contact hours are not published | Not calculated | Vary by college |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University Geography M.S. | $978.25 per credit (resident) $1,814.75 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits | $29,347.50 resident total $54,442.50 nonresident total | About $194 per semester |
| Western Michigan University M.S. in Geography; GIScience Graduate Certificate | $868.04 per credit (resident) $1,326.71 per credit (nonresident) | M.S. 30 hours; certificate 15 hours | M.S.: $26,041.20 resident total; $39,801.30 nonresident total Certificate: $13,020.60 resident total; $19,900.65 nonresident total | $481.50 per semester at 5 or more credits |
| Eastern Michigan University GIS M.S.; GIS for Professionals certificate | $1,046.50 per credit (resident) $1,813.00 per credit (nonresident) | M.S. 36 hours; certificate 15 hours | M.S.: $37,674 resident total; $65,268 nonresident total Certificate: $15,697.50 resident total; $27,195 nonresident total | $225 per semester |
| Michigan Technological University MGIS and graduate certificates | $1,448 per credit, any residency | MGIS 30 credits; certificate 9 credits | MGIS: $43,440 total Certificate: $13,032 total | Online courses: $38 per credit On campus: $139 per semester |
| Calvin University (online) GIS M.S. and graduate certificates | $720 per credit | M.S. 30 hours; certificates 12 and 17 hours | M.S.: $21,600 total 12-hour certificate: $8,640 total 17-hour certificate: $12,240 total | No program fees |
| Wayne State University GIS Graduate Certificate | $866.01 per credit (resident) $1,875.78 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $10,392.12 resident total $22,509.36 nonresident total | $402.91 per semester, plus $69.63 per credit |
| University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability graduate programs | $15,445 per term (resident, 9+ credits) $30,551 per term (nonresident) | Two terms | $30,890 resident per year $61,102 nonresident per year | $246.89 per term |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Most Michigan public universities charge juniors and seniors more than freshmen and sophomores, so both rates are shown.
- Central Michigan, Ferris State, Eastern Michigan, and Lake Superior State charge U.S. students one rate regardless of state. Saginaw Valley says a scholarship automatically reduces admitted out-of-state students to the resident rate.
- Northern Michigan’s flat rate includes a university fee that other schools list separately.
- Many community colleges charge by contact or billing hour, not credit hour. Lab courses carry more contact hours than credits, so totals run higher than a per-credit comparison suggests.
- Flint adds $90 per credit to GIS courses, and Dearborn adds $31 per credit to upper-level courses.
- Michigan State’s non-credit onGEO certificates cost $4,000 total for four core courses and are not part of the tuition schedule.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Michigan
Broad geography or technical GIS
Michigan State, Central Michigan, Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley, and Aquinas offer geography-named bachelor’s degrees with GIS options. For a more technical degree, compare Eastern Michigan’s Geospatial Information Science and Technology B.S., Northern Michigan’s GIS and Technology B.S., and Western Michigan’s GIScience major. Michigan Tech and Ferris State focus on surveying and geospatial engineering. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Certificates range from 6 credits at Ferris State to 30 at Northern Michigan. Community colleges in Lansing, Escanaba, and Petoskey offer two-year GIS degrees. For doctoral study in geography, Michigan State is the only in-state option. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
Calvin and Michigan Tech offer online GIS master’s degrees, and Ferris State, Flint, and Lake Michigan College offer online certificates. Geography bachelor’s degrees in Michigan are campus programs, though several schools offer some courses online.
Research or professional master’s
Michigan State and Western Michigan offer thesis routes in geography. Eastern Michigan’s M.S. is built around an internship, Calvin’s is coursework only, and Michigan Tech offers thesis, report, and coursework options. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience.
Funding
- Michigan State: may offer assistantships when funding is available.
- Western Michigan: M.S. applicants are considered for competitive assistantships; certificate students are not offered funding.
- Eastern Michigan: assistantships are available to GIS graduate students on a competitive basis.
- Michigan Tech: students should plan to fund their own studies, with competitive assistantships.
- Calvin and Wayne State: no program-specific funding is advertised for the GIS programs.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 2, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages. Lake Michigan College details come from its current program pages. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule.
- Michigan State: resident undergraduate, nonresident undergraduate, resident graduate, nonresident graduate
- University of Michigan: Ann Arbor tuition and fees, Dearborn schedule, Flint lower division, Flint college premium
- Wayne State: tuition and fee charts
- Western Michigan: cost of attendance
- Central Michigan: tuition and fee rates
- Eastern Michigan: tuition
- Grand Valley: tuition and fees
- Northern Michigan: tuition
- Michigan Tech: undergraduate costs, graduate costs
- Ferris State: tuition rates
- Saginaw Valley: tuition and fees
- Lake Superior State: tuition and fees
- Calvin: financial information
- Community colleges: Lansing, Schoolcraft, Bay College, North Central, Alpena catalog, Grand Rapids, Northwestern Michigan, Lake Michigan
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.