Utah has 8 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 6 public universities, 1 private university, and 1 community college. The University of Utah offers the state’s only geography Ph.D. and a spatial data science master’s degree, and Utah State University offers a geography M.S. No Utah school offers a fully online geography or GIS degree. Utah State’s two graduate GIS and remote sensing certificates are the only verified fully online options.
Quick picks for Utah
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: Weber State, $5,768 per year before 60 credits and $6,081 after, and Utah Valley, $6,204 per year.
- Lowest-cost GIS certificate: Utah Tech, 13 credits, $3,147.69 total for residents.
- Online options: Utah State graduate certificates in GIS and in Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI, 12 credits each, $6,432 total at the $536 per credit out-of-state online rate. No fully online degree.
- Community college option: Salt Lake Community College GIS and Drones A.A.S., $4,232.50 per year for residents.
- Ph.D. program: University of Utah Ph.D. in Geography.
Rates are tuition before fees, for residents unless noted. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Utah Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utah | Bachelor of Arts or Science (B.A./B.S.) in Geography B.S. in Geographic Information Science Geographic Information Science Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Salt Lake City) | B.A./B.S.: 120 (major 47) GIS B.S.: 120 (major 59) Certificate: 20 | Geography emphases in climate change, population and sustainability, and remote sensing |
| Utah State University | B.S. in Geography, Geographic Information Science emphasis B.S. in Geography, Human-Environment Geography emphasis Applied Geographic Information Science Certificate Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI Foundations Certificate | Degrees: campus (Logan) Certificates: Logan; remote sensing certificate also at statewide campuses | B.S.: 120 Certificates: 16 each | Geography sits in the Department of Environment and Society |
| Brigham Young University | B.S. in Geography with five program options: Geospatial Science and Technology, Geospatial Intelligence, Environment and Society, Urban and Regional Planning, Global Studies | Campus (Provo) | Major: 38 to 54, depending on option | Separate geospatial intelligence track |
| Weber State University | B.S. in Geography (four tracks, including Geospatial Technology) Geospatial Analysis Certificate of Proficiency Geospatial Technology Certificate of Proficiency | Campus (Ogden) | B.S.: 120 (major 36) Analysis certificate: 23 to 25 Technology certificate: 19 to 21 | Lower-division and upper-division geospatial certificates |
| Southern Utah University | B.S. in Geospatial Science Geographic Information Systems Certificate | Campus (Cedar City) | B.S.: 120 (major 54 to 55) Certificate: 15 to 17 | Required drone and GPS field methods course and capstone |
| Utah Valley University | B.S. in Geography Geographic Information Systems Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Orem) | B.S.: 120 Certificate: 19 | Certificate shares courses with the surveying program |
| Utah Tech University | Geographic Information Systems Certificate | Campus (St. George) | 13 | Includes geoprocessing with Python and an independent research course |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utah | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography M.S. in Spatial Data Science Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Campus (Salt Lake City) | M.S. Geography: 30 M.S. Spatial Data Science: 30 Ph.D.: at least 32 | Research degrees carry competitive assistantships with a tuition waiver |
| Utah State University | M.S. in Geography Geographic Information Science Certificate (post-bachelor’s) Applied Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI Certificate (post-bachelor’s) | M.S.: campus (Logan) Certificates: fully online, also Logan and statewide campuses | M.S.: 30 Certificates: 12 each | Thesis (Plan A) or paper or creative work (Plan B) |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed.
Community College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake Community College | Geographic Information Systems and Drones, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Geographic Information Systems Academic Certificate | 63 / 25 | Not stated as online (Taylorsville Redwood campus) |
Snow College lists Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees in geography that work as transfer pathways. They are not GIS credentials, so Snow is not counted. None of Utah’s eight technical colleges lists a GIS program.
Related Urban Planning Programs
This planning degree requires GIS coursework but is not a geography or GIS degree.
- University of Utah: the 48-credit Master of City and Metropolitan Planning requires GIS in Planning. Students who have already taken introductory GIS can substitute a more advanced GIS course.
See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Utah
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
- Utah State University Geographic Information Science Certificate (post-bachelor’s): USU Online lists this 12-credit graduate certificate as 100% online. It can be taken on its own or alongside a graduate degree.
- Utah State University Applied Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI Certificate (post-bachelor’s): USU Online lists this 12-credit graduate certificate as 100% online.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Salt Lake Community College GIS programs: the GIS program page links to online classes, but the GIS degree and certificate are not on the college’s list of fully online programs.
- University of Utah M.S. in Spatial Data Science: the department says its program fee applies to classroom and online classes, but it does not describe the degree as online.
- Geography bachelor’s and master’s degrees: every Utah geography and GIS degree is a campus program. None is described as available fully online.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Utah School Summaries
University of Utah
Geography at the University of Utah is part of the School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability. The 120-credit B.A. or B.S. in Geography requires 47 major credits: seven required geography courses, five geography electives, and 12 credits of allied coursework from fields such as atmospheric sciences, biology, or planning. Students can add an emphasis in Climate Change and Landscape Dynamics; Population, Development, and Sustainability; or Remote Sensing of the Environment. The B.S. requires two quantitative intensive courses, and the B.A. requires fourth-semester proficiency in a second language.
The 120-credit B.S. in Geographic Information Science has 59 program credits, with applied GIS, remote sensing, and data science cores, a field methods course, and a senior capstone. At least 30 geography credits must be taken at the U. The 20-credit Geographic Information Science Certificate has an Applied GIS track and a Remote Sensing track. It can be earned with a degree or on its own.
The 30-credit M.S. in Geography is a thesis degree with 24 credits of 6000-level coursework and 6 research credits. The Ph.D. in Geography requires a master’s degree with a thesis for admission, at least 32 graduate credits, two consecutive semesters in residence, and qualifying exams. The department says M.S. and Ph.D. students can compete for teaching and research assistantships that include a tuition waiver and subsidized health insurance.
The 30-credit M.S. in Spatial Data Science is a professional degree. It has seven core courses, including Geospatial Big Data, Remote Sensing Analysis, and Data Visualization, plus 9 elective credits, and it ends with a portfolio defense. The GRE is not required, but applicants need introductory GIS, statistics, and advanced GIS methods. The program charges $100 each fall and spring, and its students are not eligible for departmental funding. It participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), which charges eligible residents of participating western states 150% of in-state tuition. The 2026–27 program records still use the program’s former name, the M.S. in Geographic Information Science.
Sources: Geography B.A./B.S.; GIS B.S.; GIS certificate; Geography M.S.; Geography Ph.D.; Spatial Data Science M.S.; Spatial Data Science program page; Geography M.S. page.
Utah State University
Utah State’s geography programs are in the Department of Environment and Society. The 120-credit B.S. in Geography has two emphases. The Geographic Information Science emphasis covers vector and raster spatial analysis, remote sensing, modeling and programming, and mapping. The Human-Environment Geography emphasis covers hazards geography, environmental history, and political ecology. Both are offered on the Logan campus.
Two 16-credit undergraduate certificates are available: Applied Geographic Information Science (Logan) and Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI Foundations (Logan and statewide campuses). For graduate students and working professionals, the 12-credit Geographic Information Science Certificate and the 12-credit Applied Remote Sensing and Geospatial AI Certificate are offered fully online through USU Online. The GIS certificate covers GIS for natural resources, Python programming for GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis, and its credits can be applied to a graduate degree.
The 30-credit M.S. in Geography on the Logan campus offers a thesis option (Plan A) and a Plan B option built around a paper or creative work. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA over their last 60 semester credits. The department says it funds most of its graduate students through research assistantships tied to faculty grants. Utah State’s doctoral program in this department is the Ph.D. in Environment and Society, which is not a geography-named degree.
Sources: Geography B.S.; Geography M.S.; Applied GIS certificate; Remote Sensing and GeoAI Foundations certificate; online GIS certificate; online Remote Sensing and GeoAI certificate; 2026–27 catalog.
Brigham Young University
BYU’s 2026–27 undergraduate catalog lists five B.S. in Geography programs, each with its own major requirements: Geospatial Science and Technology (54 credits), Geospatial Intelligence (50), Urban and Regional Planning (50), Environment and Society (47), and Global Studies (38). The Geospatial Science and Technology program covers GIS theory, data acquisition and management, spatial analysis, cartography, and programming. The Geospatial Intelligence program applies geospatial tools and regional knowledge to national security questions.
BYU tuition depends on church membership, not state residency. The department’s website lists undergraduate majors and minors only, and BYU does not list an active geography graduate program.
Sources: majors and minors; Geospatial Science and Technology B.S.; Geospatial Intelligence B.S.; Environment and Society B.S..
Weber State University
Weber State’s B.S. in Geography is offered by the Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Sociology. The degree requires 120 credits, with at least 36 in the major: an 18-credit core that includes geospatial technology, research methods, and a senior seminar, plus an 18-credit track in Climate Science, Environment and Sustainability, Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning, or Geospatial Technology. The department says every major completes a research project.
Weber State also offers two geospatial certificates of proficiency. The Geospatial Technology Certificate (19 to 21 credits) uses lower-division GIS, cartography, geospatial analysis, and data acquisition courses. The Geospatial Analysis Certificate (23 to 25 credits) uses the upper-division versions, adds remote sensing and geospatial programming, and requires an internship or capstone. The Geospatial Technology track in the B.S. can also count toward either certificate.
Sources: Geography B.S.; Geospatial Analysis certificate; Geospatial Technology certificate; geography program page.
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University’s Department of Geosciences offers a 120-credit B.S. in Geospatial Science on the Cedar City campus. The 54- to 55-credit major includes Introduction to GIS and Cartography, Geospatial Field Methods with GPS and drones, Python programming, remote sensing, spatial analysis, applied spatial statistics, and a two-course capstone, plus 18 elective credits chosen from lists that include geography, geoscience, computer science, and civil drafting and surveying courses.
The 15- to 17-credit Geographic Information Systems Certificate requires Introduction to GIS and Cartography and Spatial Analysis, one technical elective, and an internship, research, or capstone component. It can be completed without enrolling in a degree program. SUU’s Construction Management B.S. also has a Construction Surveying and Geospatial Technologies emphasis that includes four geography courses.
Sources: Geospatial Science B.S.; GIS certificate; program page.
Utah Valley University
Utah Valley’s Department of Earth Science offers a 120-credit B.S. in Geography. Required courses include human geography, urban geography, the geography of Utah, geomorphology, introductory and advanced GIS, and statistics, plus 15 credits each from physical and social science lists. Students can use electives to focus on the physical sciences, social sciences, or geospatial technology.
The 19-credit Geographic Information Systems Certificate covers introductory and advanced GIS, remote sensing or photogrammetry, and field mapping, plus 6 elective credits such as programming, geospatial data science, or a GIS internship. Several courses come from Utah Valley’s surveying program, and the sample plan finishes the certificate in two semesters.
Sources: Geography B.S.; GIS certificate.
Utah Tech University
Utah Tech, in St. George, offers a 13-credit Geographic Information Systems Certificate through its Earth and Environmental Sciences department. It requires Introduction to GIS with a lab, Advanced GIS Analysis, Geoprocessing with Python, and a 3-credit independent research course, all with a C or better. Several of the courses carry course fees. Utah Tech does not offer a geography degree.
Sources: GIS certificate.
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College offers a 63-credit A.A.S. in Geographic Information Systems and Drones. Its 31 required credits cover cartography, data acquisition, GIS, Python for GIS, remote sensing, web GIS, spatial analysis, and two drone courses. The rest of the degree is general education and 18 elective credits from a list that includes geography, geology, and atmospheric science. The college plans the degree as five semesters at 15 credits per semester. The 25-credit GIS Academic Certificate uses the same GIS courses without the drone courses and can be stacked into the degree. The certificate uses open educational resources in place of textbooks. SLCC also offers a 16-credit Small Unmanned Aerial Systems certificate that includes GIS and remote sensing.
Snow College, in Ephraim, offers 60-credit Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees in geography for transfer students. It has no GIS credential.
Sources: GIS and Drones A.A.S.; GIS certificate; SLCC GIS program; Snow College geography.
Schools not included
- Snow College: geography A.S. and A.A. degrees are transfer pathways, not GIS credentials.
- Westminster University: no geography or GIS major, minor, or certificate is listed.
- Technical colleges: Bridgerland, Davis, Dixie, Mountainland, Ogden-Weber, Southwest, Tooele, and Uintah Basin technical colleges list no GIS programs. Their drafting and design programs are not GIS credentials.
- Western Governors University: no geography or GIS programs.
- Discontinued programs: the University of Utah’s graduate GIS certificate ended in fall 2024 and is not in the 2026–27 catalog. BYU’s older catalog records for geography and cartography master’s degrees have no current requirements, and the department does not list a graduate 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utah Geography B.A./B.S.; GIS B.S. | $5,099.39 per semester at 15 credits, upper division (resident) $17,860.21 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters at 15 credits | $10,198.78 resident per year $35,720.42 nonresident per year | $542.80 per semester at 15 credits |
| University of Utah GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | $3,666.94 per semester at 10 credits, upper division (resident) $12,931.76 (nonresident) | 20 credits over two semesters | $7,333.88 resident total $25,863.52 nonresident total | $490.77 per semester at 10 credits |
| Utah State University Geography B.S. | $4,135.87 per semester, 12–18 credits (resident) $12,858.44 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $8,271.74 resident per year $25,716.88 nonresident per year | $396.55 per semester |
| Utah State University Undergraduate GIS or remote sensing certificate | $2,936.87 per semester at 8 credits (resident) $9,054.12 (nonresident) | 16 credits over two semesters | $5,873.74 resident total $18,108.24 nonresident total | $347.39 per semester at 8 credits |
| Brigham Young University Geography B.S. | $3,548 per semester, 12 or more credits (Latter-day Saint) $7,096 per semester (not Latter-day Saint) | Two semesters (fall and winter) | $7,096 per year (Latter-day Saint) $14,192 per year (not Latter-day Saint) | None listed separately |
| Weber State University Geography B.S. | $5,768 per year before 60 credits; $6,081 per year after (resident) $16,756 and $17,156 per year (nonresident) | Two semesters, full time | $5,768 to $6,081 resident per year $16,756 to $17,156 nonresident per year | $811 per year |
| Weber State University Geospatial Technology Certificate | $2,647.07 per semester at 10 credits, lower division (resident) $7,690.39 (nonresident) | About 20 credits over two semesters | $5,294.14 resident total $15,380.78 nonresident total | $377.37 per semester at 10 credits |
| Weber State University Geospatial Analysis Certificate | $3,040.57 per semester, 11–18 credits, upper division (resident) $8,835.58 (nonresident) | About 24 credits over two semesters | $6,081.14 resident total $17,671.16 nonresident total | $405.82 per semester |
| Southern Utah University Geospatial Science B.S. | $3,311 per semester, 10–18 credits (resident) $10,775 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $6,622 resident per year $21,550 nonresident per year | $322.50 per semester |
| Southern Utah University GIS Certificate | $2,689 per semester at 8 credits (resident) $8,745 (nonresident) | 16 credits over two semesters | $5,378 resident total $17,490 nonresident total | $261.10 per semester at 8 credits |
| Utah Valley University Geography B.S. | $3,102 per semester, 12–18 credits (resident) $9,454 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $6,204 resident per year $18,908 nonresident per year | $334.55 per semester |
| Utah Valley University GIS Certificate | $1,922 at 7 credits and $3,102 at 12 credits (resident) $5,794 and $9,454 (nonresident) | Sample plan: 7 credits, then 12 credits | $5,024 resident total $15,248 nonresident total | $238.37 and $334.55 for those semesters |
| Utah Tech University GIS Certificate | $242.13 per credit, under 12 credits (resident) $774.01 per credit (nonresident) | 13 credits, part time | $3,147.69 resident total $10,062.13 nonresident total | $35.50 per credit; course fees |
| Salt Lake Community College GIS and Drones A.A.S. | $2,116.25 per semester, 12–18 credits (resident) $7,407 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $4,232.50 resident per year $14,814 nonresident per year | $207.50 per semester; course fees |
| Salt Lake Community College GIS Academic Certificate | $1,472.25 at 8 credits and $1,633.25 at 9 credits (resident) $5,153 and $5,716.50 (nonresident) | 25 credits over three semesters (8, 8, and 9 credits) | $4,577.75 resident total $16,022.50 nonresident total | $207.50 per semester; $45 course fees |
All rates are 2026–27.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Utah M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography | $4,071.24 per semester at 9 credits (resident) $14,374.23 (nonresident) | Two semesters at 9 credits | $8,142.48 resident per year $28,748.46 nonresident per year | $500.06 per semester at 9 credits. Assistantships include a tuition waiver. |
| University of Utah M.S. in Spatial Data Science | $4,404.10 per semester at 10 credits (resident) $15,545.74 (nonresident) | Department’s model plan: three semesters of 10 credits | $13,212.30 resident total $46,637.22 nonresident total | $512.34 per semester, plus $100 program fee each fall and spring |
| Utah State University M.S. in Geography | $3,785.29 per semester at 9 credits (resident) $12,777.47 (nonresident) | Two semesters at 9 credits | $7,570.58 resident per year $25,554.94 nonresident per year | $359.68 per semester at 9 credits |
| Utah State University (online) GIS Certificate; Remote Sensing and GeoAI Certificate | $536 per credit, tuition only, for online students living outside Utah Utah residents: $2,727.67 per semester at 6 credits | 12 credits (residents: two semesters of 6 credits) | $6,432 total outside Utah $5,455.34 resident total | Residents pay $322.81 per semester at 6 credits; the out-of-state online rate is tuition only |
All rates are 2026–27.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- The University of Utah has no full-time flat rate. It charges a base amount each semester plus a per-credit rate, so tuition rises with every credit.
- Weber State’s part-time tuition includes a base charge each semester plus a per-credit rate, so part-time certificate study costs more per credit than full-time study.
- BYU charges by church membership instead of state residency.
- Utah State charges online students who live outside Utah a flat $536 per graduate credit. Utah residents taking the same courses pay the regular tuition tables.
- Students from western states may qualify for reduced nonresident tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). The University of Utah’s M.S. in Spatial Data Science participates in WRGP.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Utah
Broad geography or technical GIS
The University of Utah, Utah State, Weber State, and Utah Valley offer traditional geography bachelor’s degrees with GIS options. For a degree built around GIS, compare the University of Utah’s GIS B.S., Southern Utah’s Geospatial Science B.S., Utah State’s GIS emphasis, and BYU’s Geospatial Science and Technology program. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Undergraduate GIS certificates range from 13 credits at Utah Tech to 25 credits at Salt Lake Community College and Weber State. For graduate study, the University of Utah offers research and professional master’s degrees and the state’s only geography Ph.D., and Utah State offers a geography M.S. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
Utah State’s two 12-credit graduate certificates are the only verified fully online options in Utah. Students who need a fully online degree should look at programs based in other states through our online programs guide.
Research or professional master’s
The University of Utah’s M.S. in Geography is a thesis degree and the usual path to its Ph.D. Its M.S. in Spatial Data Science is a professional degree that ends with a portfolio, not a thesis. Utah State’s M.S. offers a thesis or a Plan B paper.
Funding
- University of Utah: Geography M.S. and Ph.D. students can compete for teaching and research assistantships that include a tuition waiver and subsidized health insurance. Spatial Data Science students are not eligible for departmental funding.
- Utah State: the department says it funds most graduate students through research assistantships tied to faculty grants.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Nevada, 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 unless noted above. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule.
- University of Utah: tuition schedules
- Utah State: tuition and fee schedules, online certificate rate
- BYU: tuition
- Weber State: tuition and fee tables, tuition and costs
- Southern Utah: 2026–27 undergraduate tuition
- Utah Valley: 2026–27 tuition and fees
- Utah Tech: tuition and fees
- Salt Lake Community College: tuition and fees
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.