Massachusetts has 14 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials. They include 6 public universities (UMass Amherst and five state universities), 6 private universities and colleges, and 2 community colleges with GIS certificates. The only geography-named Ph.D. is at Clark University. No school offers a geography or GIS degree it describes as fully online, but Bridgewater State, Northeastern, and Harvard Extension School offer online GIS certificates.
Quick picks for Massachusetts
- Lowest resident bachelor’s cost: Fitchburg State, $970 tuition plus $10,916 in mandatory fees, or $11,886 per year.
- Lowest-cost GIS credential: Bristol Community College‘s 12-credit GIS certificate, $288 in tuition plus $2,760 in college fees for residents.
- Online GIS certificates: Bridgewater State (6-credit graduate certificate), Northeastern (12 semester hours), and Harvard Extension School (two-course microcertificate).
- One-year GIS master’s: Boston University (M.S. in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences) and UMass Amherst (one-year M.S. in Geography, GIST concentration).
- Ph.D. in Geography: Clark University, with tuition remission and an assistantship for eight semesters.
Rates are for Massachusetts residents. At Massachusetts public colleges, mandatory fees are larger than tuition, so fees are shown here. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates.
Massachusetts Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates at Universities
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Amherst | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography (six concentrations, including GIST) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Amherst) | Majors: Not verified Certificate: 5 courses, minimum 15 | GIST concentration within the B.A. |
| Salem State | B.A. and B.S. in Geography (two B.S. concentrations) B.S. in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems B.S.-M.S. in Cartography and GIS Certificate in GIS (undergraduate) | Campus (Salem) | 120 per bachelor’s (major 33–45; Cartography and GIS 36–39) B.S.-M.S.: 138 Certificate: 15 | Bachelor’s named for cartography and GIS |
| Bridgewater State | B.S. in Geography (two concentrations) B.A. in Geography (two concentrations) GIS Foundations Undergraduate Certificate | Campus (Bridgewater) | 120 minimum (major 31–51) Certificate: 9 | Internship, field, research, or study abroad course in the B.S. |
| Worcester State | Geography major with five concentrations, including Geographic Information Systems | Campus (Worcester) | 120 (GIS concentration major: 45) | Independent study, research, or internship in the GIS concentration |
| Framingham State | B.A. in Geospatial and Data Analysis | Campus (Framingham) | 15 major courses; 120 semester hours to graduate | Center for GIS Outreach projects with public agencies |
| Fitchburg State | B.A. and B.S. in Geographic Science and Technology | Campus (Fitchburg) | Major: 36 minimum | Up to 12 internship credits count toward the major |
| Clark University | B.A. in Geography Accelerated B.A./M.S. in Geographic Information Science | Campus (Worcester) | Major: 11 geography courses | Clark advertises a 100% tuition scholarship for the accelerated master’s year |
| Mount Holyoke College | B.A. in Geography | Campus (South Hadley) | Major: 36 minimum; 128 to graduate | GIS course required in the major |
| Boston University | Bachelor’s-to-master’s in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences (for Earth and Environmental Sciences or Environmental Analysis and Policy majors) | Campus (Boston) | Up to 8 master’s units shared with the bachelor’s | No geography-named bachelor’s degree |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geographic Information Science Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership (first cohort summer 2027) | Campus; executive doctorate primarily online with residencies | M.S.: 10 or 12 course units, by track Ph.D.: 8 semesters of credit Executive doctorate: 12 courses | Only geography-named Ph.D. in the state |
| UMass Amherst | M.S. in Geography (thesis or non-thesis) One-year M.S. in Geography, GIST concentration Dual Master of Regional Planning / M.S. in Geography | Campus | One-year M.S.: 30 Others: Not verified | One-year M.S. ends in a 180-hour practicum; GRE not considered |
| Boston University | M.S. in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences | Campus; fall start | 32 (eight courses) | Designed for one year; no thesis; GRE optional |
| Salem State | M.S. in Geo-Information Science Geo-Information Science Certificate (graduate) | Not stated | M.S.: 30–32 Certificate: 15 | Certificate courses can lead directly into the M.S. |
| Bridgewater State | GIS Foundations Graduate Certificate | Online | 6 | Can be completed in eight months |
| Northeastern University | Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | Online | 12 semester hours | Completion in 6–12 months |
| Tufts University | Certificate in Geographic Information Science (graduate) | Hybrid (Medford/Somerville) | 12 | Part time over 3 to 4 semesters |
| Harvard Extension School | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Microcertificate (graduate credit) | Online | 2 courses | No application required |
Community College GIS Credentials
| College | Credential | Credits | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Community College Fall River | Geographic Information Systems Certificate (Certificate of Recognition) | 12 | Not on Bristol’s online or hybrid certificate lists |
| Bunker Hill Community College Boston | Geographic Information Systems Certificate | 27–28 (sum of the two semesters) | On campus required for the GIS-224 lab |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs, except Fitchburg State (2025–26, the latest published). Minors are not listed. The other 13 community colleges offer GIS courses at most, and no college catalog lists a geography transfer pathway.
Related Urban Planning Programs
These planning degrees require a GIS course but are not geography or GIS degrees.
- UMass Amherst Master of Regional Planning: 48 credits, with RP 625 Geographic Information Systems in the required core. It can be combined with the M.S. in Geography as a dual degree.
- MIT Master in City Planning: 150 units, including a thesis. Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS is a program requirement, though students can test out and replace the units with electives.
See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Massachusetts
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The programs below have an official statement that the credential is offered online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online.
Verified fully online options
- Bridgewater State: the catalog describes the GIS Foundations Graduate Certificate as “a 6-credit online graduate program.”
- Northeastern University: the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems is listed with Online as its program type and campus location. It does not meet F-1 visa requirements.
- Harvard Extension School: the GIS Microcertificate is labeled “(Online)” and takes two courses.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Tufts Certificate in Geographic Information Science: listed as hybrid. Courses are offered in the evenings, on weekends, and online.
- Clark Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership: “delivered primarily online,” with two one-week, in-person residencies per year. The first cohort begins in summer 2027.
No Massachusetts school offers a geography or GIS degree that it describes as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Massachusetts School Summaries
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Geography at UMass Amherst is part of the Department of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences. The B.A. in Geography has six concentrations: Human Geography, Urban Geography, Climate Change and Society, Globalization and International Studies, Environmental Geography and Sustainability, and Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST). The B.S. in Geography focuses on physical and environmental change, with a foundation in math, chemistry, physics, geology, and computer science. The GIST Certificate takes five courses and at least 15 credits.
The M.S. in Geography has thesis and non-thesis tracks and is designed to take two years. A 30-credit one-year M.S. with a GIST concentration runs from fall through spring and ends with a 6-credit, 180-hour practicum or internship, usually in summer. The program says it does not consider GRE scores. Some UMass pages still call the one-year degree “proposed,” although it lists 2027 application deadlines. A dual Master of Regional Planning / M.S. in Geography is also offered. There is no geography-named doctorate; geography students take the Ph.D. in Geosciences.
Sources: 2026–27 undergraduate guide; Geography B.A.; GIST Certificate; one-year M.S.; GIST M.S. program details; Geosciences Ph.D..
Clark University
Clark’s B.A. in Geography requires 11 geography courses across human-environment, earth system science, globalization and cities, and GIScience, plus a capstone. Eligible majors can enter the accelerated B.A./M.S. in Geographic Information Science; Clark’s program page advertises a 100% tuition scholarship for the fifth year.
The M.S. in Geographic Information Science has a research track (12 course units, research paper, and conference presentation) and an internship track (10 units and a summer internship). Areas of study are GIS for Development and Environment, Conservation Applications, and Environmental Remote Sensing. The Ph.D. in Geography includes doctoral exams and a dissertation; admitted students receive tuition remission and an assistantship for eight semesters. Clark’s new Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership is a low-residency program whose first cohort begins in summer 2027. Clark also awards an M.A. in Geography, but only to students already in the Ph.D.
Sources: Geography major; GIScience M.S.; Geography Ph.D.; accelerated B.A./M.S.; Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership.
Boston University
BU’s Department of Earth and Environment offers the M.S. in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences, at least 32 units in eight courses: three core courses (including GIS) and five electives. BU says it is “designed to be complete in one year,” has no thesis, and starts in the fall; the GRE is optional and part-time study is possible. Students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences or Environmental Analysis and Policy can take a bachelor’s-to-master’s version. BU has no geography-named bachelor’s degree, and its Ph.D. is in Earth and Environment.
Sources: M.S. program page; bulletin; program FAQ; bachelor’s-to-master’s.
Salem State University
Salem State’s geography majors share a 15-credit core that includes GIS and a geographic research sequence. The B.A. in Geography (42 major credits) requires a world language and a minor; the B.S. in Geography is offered in general, Environmental Sustainability, and Sustainable Tourism versions. The B.S. in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (36–39 major credits) has electives in GIS programming and internships. A combined B.S.-M.S. in Cartography and GIS totals 138 credits. A 15-credit undergraduate Certificate in GIS is also offered.
At the graduate level, the M.S. in Geo-Information Science (30–32 credits) ends in a thesis or a GIS seminar capstone, with an optional GIS practicum. The 15-credit graduate Geo-Information Science Certificate takes five courses; students who earn a 3.0 in three certificate courses can move directly into the M.S.
Sources: Cartography and GIS B.S.; Geography B.A.; GIS certificate; Geo-Information Science M.S.; graduate certificate.
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater offers a B.S. in Geography with Environmental Planning and Conservation or Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience concentrations, and a B.A. in Geography with Sustainable Global Systems or Geography for Educators concentrations. Every version includes a maps and geodata course and a senior seminar, and the B.S. adds a required field, research, internship, or study abroad course. The 9-credit GIS Foundations Undergraduate Certificate covers GIS and remote sensing or spatial analysis.
The 6-credit GIS Foundations Graduate Certificate is online, can be completed in eight months, and prepares students for an Esri foundation-level certification exam. Bridgewater has no geography or GIS master’s degree.
Sources: geography programs; undergraduate certificate; graduate certificate.
Worcester State University
Worcester State’s Geography major has an 18-credit core ending in a geography seminar, plus one of five concentrations: General Geography, Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Earth System Science, or Earth Science Education. The 45-credit GIS concentration adds two GIS courses, an independent study, research, or internship, electives, and computer science and math courses. The catalog does not say whether the degree is a B.A. or B.S.
Sources: Geography and Earth Sciences catalog.
Framingham State University
Framingham State’s B.A. in Geospatial and Data Analysis takes 15 major courses, including GIS, cartography, remote sensing, statistics, and a capstone with a thesis. Electives include an internship, drones, and Python. Framingham counts courses rather than credits; graduation takes at least 30 course-credits, equal to 120 semester hours. Its Center for GIS Outreach connects students with projects for MassDOT and the Town of Wellesley. The former geography major is no longer listed; geography is now a minor.
Sources: catalog; program page.
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg State offers a B.A. and a B.S. in Geographic Science and Technology, each with at least 36 major credits (18 required and 18 elective) plus computer science and math cognates. Up to 12 internship credits can count toward the major, and the B.A. requires intermediate foreign-language proficiency. Fitchburg’s newest published catalog is 2025–26.
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke’s B.A. in Geography, in the Department of Geology and Geography, requires at least 36 credits. These include an introductory geography course, a geology course, a GIS course, four 200-level courses, and two 300-level seminars. The college requires 128 credits to graduate.
Sources: Geography program; degree requirements.
Northeastern University
Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies offers an online Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems of 12 semester hours, in six two-credit courses. It enrolls full- or part-time students in fall or spring and takes 6–12 months. The courses can also be applied to a professional studies master’s. Northeastern’s former GIS master’s no longer appears in the 2026–27 catalog.
Sources: catalog; program page.
Tufts University
Tufts’ Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning offers a 12-credit Certificate in Geographic Information Science: introductory and advanced GIS plus two electives. It is designed for part-time study of 3–6 credits per semester and “can be completed in 3 to 4 semesters.” Tufts lists the format as hybrid. A related Certificate in Spatial Data Analytics is also offered.
Sources: admissions page; department page.
Harvard Extension School
Harvard Extension School’s online Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Microcertificate takes two graduate-credit courses: Introduction to GIS plus either Remote Sensing or Project Work in Remote Sensing. No application is required. Students need at least a B in each course and must finish within two years; Harvard says the program takes 8 months to 2 years. Harvard University itself offers no geography degree.
Sources: GIS Microcertificate.
Bristol Community College
Bristol’s 12-credit Geographic Information Systems Certificate takes four courses over two semesters: Introduction to Geography, computer skills, Introduction to GIS, and Applications of GIS. The courses also apply to Bristol’s Environmental Technology degree.
Sources: GIS certificate.
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill’s two-semester Geographic Information Systems Certificate includes Python programming, introductory and advanced GIS, remote sensing, and a GIS capstone or paid internship. Students must be on campus for the introductory GIS lab. The catalog notes that the certificate “is not yet eligible for federal or state financial aid,” which includes free community college benefits.
Sources: GIS certificate.
Schools not included
- UMass Boston offers only a Geospatial Analysis and Modeling minor; its former GIS certificate is not in the 2026–27 catalogs. Westfield State offers geography and GIS minors only. UMass Lowell and UMass Dartmouth have no geography or GIS credential.
- Boston College, Brandeis, Smith, Amherst, Wellesley, Holy Cross, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts offer GIS courses, labs, or related environmental programs, but no geography or GIS credential. MIT is listed only under planning.
- Community colleges: Berkshire, Cape Cod, Holyoke, and Mount Wachusett offer a GIS course within science programs, but no GIS credential. Greenfield, MassBay, Massasoit, Middlesex, North Shore, Northern Essex, Quinsigamond, Roxbury, and Springfield Technical have no GIS credential.
- Franklin Cummings Tech offers land surveying courses that touch on GIS, not a GIS 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. At Massachusetts public colleges, required fees are much larger than tuition, so read both columns.
Undergraduate and certificate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Amherst Geography B.A. and B.S. | $9,108.50 per semester (resident) $21,152 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters at 12+ credits | $18,217 resident per year $42,304 nonresident per year | $995 per year (student activities and technology fees); $500 one-time new student fee |
| Salem State Geography and Cartography and GIS bachelor’s degrees | $37.92 per credit (resident) $293.75 per credit (nonresident) | 24 credits per year | $910.08 resident per year $7,050 nonresident per year | $12,179.52 per year (resident); $13,669.20 per year (nonresident) |
| Bridgewater State Geography bachelor’s degrees | About $910 per year (resident) Nonresident tuition not published separately | One academic year | About $910 resident per year $18,930 nonresident tuition and fees combined per year | $11,880 per year (resident) |
| Worcester State Geography major | $970 per year (resident) $7,050 per year (nonresident) | One academic year | $970 resident per year $7,050 nonresident per year | $11,824 per year |
| Framingham State Geospatial and Data Analysis B.A. | $970 per year (resident) $7,050 per year (nonresident) | One academic year | $970 resident per year $7,050 nonresident per year | $11,620 per year |
| Fitchburg State Geographic Science and Technology B.A./B.S. | $970 per year (resident) $7,050 per year (nonresident) | One academic year | $970 resident per year $7,050 nonresident per year | $10,916 per year (resident total with tuition: $11,886) |
| Clark University Geography B.A. | $62,070 per year, same for residents and nonresidents | One academic year | $62,070 per year | $1,140 per year (activity and health fees); one-time orientation fee |
| Mount Holyoke College Geography B.A. | $71,178 per year | One academic year | $71,178 per year | $272 per year student activity fee |
| Bristol Community College GIS Certificate | $24 per credit (resident) $230 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $288 resident total $2,760 nonresident total | $230 per credit college fee ($2,760 total); $37 student support fee |
| Bunker Hill Community College GIS Certificate | $24 per credit (resident) $230 per credit (nonresident) | 27–28 credits | $648–$672 resident total $6,210–$6,440 nonresident total | $265 per credit in course, technology, and books fees ($7,155–$7,420 total) |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise. Bridgewater publishes resident tuition as “approximately $910” and its nonresident figure only as a tuition-and-fees total.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Amherst M.S. in Geography | $8,083 per semester (resident, 9 credits) $17,806.50 per semester (nonresident, 9 credits) | Two semesters at 9 credits | $16,166 resident per year $35,613 nonresident per year | $1,191 per semester (service, health, and senate fees) |
| UMass Amherst One-year M.S., GIST concentration | Program estimate: about $17,000 tuition for 30 credits (resident) | 30 credits | About $17,000 resident total | About $2,200 in mandatory fees (program estimate) |
| Boston University M.S. in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences | $73,024 per year (full time) $2,282 per credit (part time) | One full-time year | $73,024 total | $524 per semester (student services and health fees) |
| Clark University M.S. in Geographic Information Science | $5,075 per course unit | 10 units (internship track) or 12 units (research track) | $50,750 or $60,900 total | $900 per semester (service, technology, and student council fees); $125 orientation |
| Salem State M.S. and graduate certificate in Geo-Information Science | $140 per credit (resident) $230 per credit (nonresident) | M.S. 30 credits; certificate 15 | M.S.: $4,200 resident, $6,900 nonresident total Certificate: $2,100 resident, $3,450 nonresident total | $405.60 per credit (resident); $416.40 per credit (nonresident) |
| Bridgewater State GIS Foundations Graduate Certificate | $70 per credit | 6 credits | $420 total | $489.75 per credit ($2,938.50 total) |
| Northeastern University GIS Graduate Certificate | Estimated total tuition $15,108 | 12 semester hours | $15,108 total | Not stated |
| Tufts University Certificate in Geographic Information Science | $1,049 per credit | 12 credits | $12,588 total | Not stated |
| Harvard Extension School GIS Microcertificate | $3,580 per graduate-credit course | 2 courses | $7,160 total | Not stated for the microcertificate; $40 per term payment-plan fee if used |
Rates are 2026–27. Clark Ph.D. students receive tuition remission, so Ph.D. tuition is not shown.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Massachusetts state universities charge low tuition and large mandatory fees, so resident tuition and fees together run about $11,900 to $13,100 per year.
- UMass Amherst graduate tuition is not a flat per-credit rate: it rises by credit up to 8 credits, then jumps to a full-time rate at 9 credits.
- Clark, Mount Holyoke, BU, Northeastern, Tufts, and Harvard Extension charge the same tuition to residents and nonresidents.
- MassEducate covers community college tuition and fees for eligible Massachusetts residents enrolled in at least 6 credits per term in an eligible program. Bunker Hill says its GIS certificate is not yet eligible for state or federal aid.
- Students from other New England states may qualify for reduced regional rates at Massachusetts public colleges.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Massachusetts
Broad geography or technical GIS
UMass Amherst, Bridgewater, Worcester State, Clark, and Mount Holyoke offer geography majors with GIS coursework. More technical options include Salem State’s B.S. in Cartography and GIS, Fitchburg State’s Geographic Science and Technology degrees, and Framingham State’s Geospatial and Data Analysis B.A. Read more about GIScience degrees and bachelor’s programs.
Master’s or Ph.D.
For a fast professional degree, BU and UMass Amherst offer one-year GIS-focused master’s programs, and Salem State’s M.S. has the lowest published per-credit tuition. Clark’s M.S. offers a research or internship track. Clark is the only school with a Ph.D. in Geography; UMass Amherst and BU route geography research through broader earth science doctorates. See master’s programs.
Online or campus
Every geography and GIS degree in Massachusetts is campus-based. Working professionals can take an online GIS certificate at Bridgewater State, Northeastern, or Harvard Extension, or the hybrid certificate at Tufts. For online degrees elsewhere, see online geography schools.
Starting with a certificate
Bristol and Bunker Hill community colleges offer GIS certificates that also count toward their environmental degrees. Salem State’s graduate certificate can lead directly into its M.S. Check aid eligibility first, since some short certificates do not qualify.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Rhode Island, 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, except Fitchburg State (2025–26 catalog). Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule.
- Public universities: UMass Amherst undergraduate tuition, UMass Amherst graduate tuition, Salem State tuition and fees, Bridgewater State tuition and fees, Worcester State tuition and fees, Framingham State tuition and fees, Fitchburg State tuition and fees
- Private universities and colleges: Boston University, Clark University, Clark graduate tuition, Mount Holyoke, Northeastern, Tufts, Harvard Extension School
- Community colleges: Bristol costs, Bunker Hill tuition, MassEducate
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.