Tennessee has 10 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 9 public universities and 1 private college. Most are geography or geospatial concentrations inside geosciences, earth science, or environmental science degrees. UT Knoxville offers the state’s only stand-alone GIS bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in Geography, and the University of Memphis offers a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences with a geography focus. No geography or GIS degree in the state is described as fully online, but graduate GIS certificates at Memphis and East Tennessee State can be completed online. No community college or technical college currently offers a GIS credential.
Quick picks for Tennessee
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: Austin Peay State University, $8,346 per year at 15 credits per semester.
- Online GIS credentials: 12-credit graduate GIS certificates at University of Memphis and East Tennessee State. No geography or GIS degree is fully online.
- Lowest-cost graduate GIS certificate: East Tennessee State, $6,588 in resident tuition for 12 credits.
- Stand-alone GIS bachelor’s: UT Knoxville B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology.
- Ph.D. programs: UT Knoxville (Geography) and University of Memphis (Earth Sciences, geography focus).
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Tennessee Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Knoxville | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography (five concentrations, including Geospatial Science and Technology) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geographic Information Science and Technology | Campus (Knoxville) | 120 minimum each | Stand-alone GIS B.S.; five-year bachelor’s-to-M.S. options |
| University of Memphis | B.A. in Earth Sciences, Geography concentration | Campus (Memphis) | 120 (major 25–30) | GIS course in the major core |
| Middle Tennessee State | B.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Science concentration | Campus (Murfreesboro) | 120 (major 34, plus 16 supporting) | Drone course in the supporting courses; internship or field study option |
| East Tennessee State | B.S. in Geosciences, Geography and Sustainability concentration B.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Science concentration | Campus (Johnson City) | 120 (major 49) | Python and geospatial field methods in the Geospatial Science concentration |
| UT Chattanooga | B.S. in Environmental Science, Geographic and Cartographic Sciences B.S. in Geology, Geospatial Science B.S. in Secondary Education, Geography | Campus (Chattanooga) | 120 each | Senior experience with internship or advanced GIS options |
| UT Martin | B.S. in Geoscience, GIS concentration GIS Certificate (with a bachelor’s degree) Geospatial Fundamentals Certificate Advanced Geospatial Systems Certificate B.S.Ed., Secondary Education–Geography | Campus (Martin) | B.S.: 120 (concentration 45) Certificates: 15 / 9–10 / 6 | GIS concentration graduates also receive the GIS Certificate |
| Austin Peay State | B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science, Geography concentration | On-ground (Clarksville) | 120 (program 61 minimum) | GIS I required; no thesis or internship required |
| Tennessee Tech | B.S. in Geosciences, Geography concentration B.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Data Analysis concentration | Campus (Cookeville) | 120 each | Senior thesis required |
| Rhodes College | Geographic Information Science Undergraduate Certificate | Campus (Memphis) | 12 | Introductory GIS plus two advanced or applied courses |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Knoxville | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography (GIScience or Sustainability concentration available) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Campus | M.S.: 30 minimum Ph.D.: 72 beyond the bachelor’s or 48 beyond the master’s | Thesis or project M.S. |
| University of Memphis | M.S. in Earth Sciences, Geography concentration Master of Arts (M.A.) in Earth Sciences Ph.D. in Earth Sciences (geography focus available) GIS Graduate Certificate | Degrees: campus Certificate: online, campus, or hybrid | M.S.: 32 M.A.: 36 Ph.D.: 72 beyond the bachelor’s or 40 beyond the master’s Certificate: 12 | GRE not required; certificate open to non-degree students |
| East Tennessee State | M.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Analysis concentration GIS Graduate Certificate | M.S.: campus Certificate: online, in person, or both | M.S.: 30–33 Certificate: 12 | Thesis required; fall entry only |
| Middle Tennessee State | M.S. in Geosciences (GIS and remote sensing electives) | Campus | 36–39 | Professional Science track with business core, or thesis track |
| Tennessee State | M.S. in Environmental Science, Geospatial Sciences concentration | Campus (Nashville) | Non-thesis: 35 minimum Thesis: not stated | GRE required |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed. No Tennessee community college or Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) currently offers a GIS-named credential; see community colleges.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Tennessee
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The programs below have an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online.
Verified fully online options
- University of Memphis, GIS Graduate Certificate: the department says the certificate “can be taken completely online” through UofM Global, in a classroom, or as a hybrid. It is 12 credits.
- East Tennessee State, GIS Graduate Certificate: the catalog says it “can be completed online, in person, or through a combination of both,” and lists it among ETSU’s graduate programs available online. It is 12 credits.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Geography and GIS degrees: no Tennessee school describes a geography or GIS bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree as fully online. Austin Peay’s catalog lists its geography concentration as on-ground.
- Non-credit option: UT Chattanooga’s Introduction to GIS Certificate is an online, asynchronous, 8-week professional development certificate. It does not award college credit.
Roane State Community College’s GIS program pages still mention online students, but its catalog says the program stopped accepting new students in Spring 2024. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Tennessee School Summaries
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
UT Knoxville’s B.A. in Geography has five concentrations: Climate and Climate Change, Geospatial Science and Technology, Landscapes and Environment, Space, Society, and Culture, and Urban Studies. The B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology requires courses in geovisualization, cartography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis, and both degrees end in the GEOG 499 capstone. Five-year bachelor’s-to-M.S. versions are offered.
The M.S. in Geography requires at least 30 graduate hours with a thesis or project option, and offers Geographic Information Science and Sustainability concentrations. The Ph.D. in Geography requires 72 hours beyond the bachelor’s or 48 beyond the master’s, including at least 24 dissertation hours and comprehensive exams. Applications received by December 15 are assured consideration for first-round department funding.
Sources: GIST B.S.; Geography B.A., Geospatial Science and Technology; Geography M.S.; Geography Ph.D..
University of Memphis
Memphis offers geography through its Department of Earth Sciences. The B.A. in Earth Sciences, Geography concentration is 120 hours, with a core that includes Geographic Information Science.
Graduate options include a thesis-based M.S. in Earth Sciences, Geography concentration (32 hours), a non-thesis M.A. in Earth Sciences (36 hours, with an internship or research course), and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences with geography as a focus area. The GRE is not required. The 12-credit GIS Graduate Certificate ends in a capstone GIS project and is open to bachelor’s degree holders as non-degree students. It can be taken on campus, online, or as a hybrid.
Sources: Geography concentration B.A.; Geography concentration M.S.; Earth Sciences Ph.D.; GIS certificate catalog; GIS certificate program page.
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU’s B.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Science concentration replaced the Physical Geography concentration in 2026–27. It covers GIS, cartography, and remote sensing, and its supporting courses include drones, programming, and data science. Students choose an internship or field studies course and complete a minor.
The M.S. in Geosciences is not geography-named but lists GIS and remote sensing electives, including geospatial database programming. Students take either a Professional Science track with a business core and internship, or a thesis track.
Sources: Geospatial Science concentration B.S.; Geosciences M.S.; 2026–27 catalog changes.
East Tennessee State University
ETSU’s B.S. in Geosciences offers a Geography and Sustainability concentration and a Geospatial Science concentration, each with a 49-hour major. The Geospatial Science concentration includes Python programming, geospatial field methods, advanced GIS, and advanced remote sensing, and does not require a minor.
The M.S. in Geosciences, Geospatial Analysis concentration is 30–33 hours and requires a thesis. It admits for fall only. The 12-credit GIS Graduate Certificate can be completed online, in person, or both, is eligible for financial aid, and its credits can apply to the M.S. with approval.
Sources: Geospatial Science concentration B.S.; Geography and Sustainability concentration B.S.; Geospatial Analysis M.S.; GIS certificate.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC has three geography-related bachelor’s degrees. The B.S. in Environmental Science, Geographic and Cartographic Sciences requires GIS and remote sensing, with a senior experience such as an internship or advanced GIS course. The B.S. in Geology, Geospatial Science focuses on GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis and ends in capstone research. The B.S. in Secondary Education, Geography leads to teacher licensure. UTC has no graduate geography or GIS credential.
Sources: Geographic and Cartographic Sciences B.S.; Geospatial Science B.S.; Secondary Education, Geography B.S..
University of Tennessee at Martin
UT Martin’s B.S. in Geoscience, Geographic Information Systems concentration is 120 hours, with 45 hours in the concentration and a required exit exam. Graduates also receive the department’s GIS Certificate.
The 15-hour GIS Certificate requires a 3.00 GPA in its courses and is awarded only to students who complete a bachelor’s degree. UT Martin also lists a 9–10 hour Geospatial Fundamentals Certificate and a 6-hour Advanced Geospatial Systems Certificate, which requires the Fundamentals certificate first. A B.S.Ed. with a Secondary Education–Geography concentration leads to licensure. There is no graduate program in geography.
Sources: GIS concentration; GIS Certificate; Geospatial Fundamentals Certificate.
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay’s B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science, Geography concentration requires GIS I, physical geography, and statistics in the major core. Concentration electives cover regional geography, techniques such as GIS II, remote sensing, and field mapping, and physical and environmental geography. No thesis, internship, or capstone is required. The catalog lists the program as on-ground, and Austin Peay has no graduate geography or GIS program.
Sources: Earth and Environmental Science B.S..
Tennessee Tech University
Tennessee Tech’s B.S. in Geosciences has a Geography concentration and a Geospatial Data Analysis concentration. Both include cartography, GIS theory, a career preparation course, and a required senior thesis. The Geospatial Data Analysis concentration adds programming or data science, advanced GIS, and remote sensing. There is no graduate geography or GIS credential.
Sources: Geography concentration; Geospatial Data Analysis concentration.
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State’s College of Agriculture offers an M.S. in Environmental Science, Geospatial Sciences concentration with thesis and non-thesis options. Courses include advanced GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, spatial databases, and GPS and drone mapping. The non-thesis option requires at least 35 hours and comprehensive exams. Admission requires the GRE (minimum 290, verbal plus quantitative) and a 2.50 GPA.
Sources: Geospatial Sciences M.S..
Private Colleges
Rhodes College
Rhodes offers a 12-credit Geographic Information Science Undergraduate Certificate. Students take Introduction to GIS, then either two advanced or applied GIS courses or one advanced GIS course plus one complementary-skills course. No other private college in Tennessee was found to offer a geography or GIS credential.
Sources: GIS certificate.
Community and Technical Colleges
No Tennessee community college or TCAT currently offers a GIS-named or geography-named career credential. Roane State’s GIS Technology A.A.S. and GIS technical certificate stopped accepting new students in Spring 2024 and are not in the current catalog. Columbia State and Nashville State list Geography A.A./A.S. transfer degrees and Walters State lists an A.S. with a Geography emphasis; these are transfer degrees and are not counted here.
Sources: THEC academic program inventory; Roane State 2025–26 catalog (PDF); Walters State Geography emphasis.
Schools not included
- University of Tennessee Southern has no geography, GIS, or environmental science program in its 2026–27 catalogs.
- Middle Tennessee State’s B.S. in Global Studies and Human Geography was terminated in the 2026–27 catalog. Austin Peay no longer has a separate GIS concentration.
- Cumberland University has a geography minor. Its Master of Arts in Teaching has no geography concentration in the current catalog.
- Vanderbilt, Sewanee, Belmont, Lipscomb, Lee, Union, Maryville, Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum, Milligan, and other private colleges offer GIS or geography courses or minors only, or none.
- Planning and related degrees: the University of Memphis Master of City and Regional Planning has no GIS-named required course, and Tennessee Tech’s Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and environmental informatics programs are not geography- or GIS-named.
- Community colleges and TCATs: GIS appears only as single courses inside engineering technology, surveying, or agriculture programs at several colleges.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay State B.S. Earth and Environmental Science | $331 per credit for credits 1–12, $67 per credit above 12 (resident) Plus $249 per credit out-of-state, capped at $2,988 per semester | 15 credits per semester, two semesters | $8,346 resident per year $14,322 nonresident per year | Program service fee $91.20 per credit, capped at $912 per semester |
| UT Chattanooga Bachelor’s degrees | $4,452 per semester at 12+ credits (resident) Plus $4,277 per semester out-of-state | Two semesters | $8,904 resident per year $17,458 nonresident per year | $1,090 per semester in mandatory fees |
| East Tennessee State B.S. Geosciences | $365 per credit for credits 1–12, $70 per credit above 12 (resident) Nonresident total at 15 credits: $7,909 per semester ($6,214 for Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia residents), including the program service fee | 15 credits per semester, two semesters | $9,180 resident per year $10,140 per year (five neighboring states) $13,530 per year (other states) | Program service fee $143 per credit, capped at $1,144 per semester |
| Middle Tennessee State B.S. Geosciences | $365 per credit for credits 1–12, $72 per credit above 12 (resident) $1,311 per credit for credits 1–12, $262 above 12 (nonresident) | 15 credits per semester, two semesters | $9,192 resident per year $33,036 nonresident per year | Program services fee $99 per credit, capped at $1,188 per semester |
| UT Martin B.S. Geoscience and certificates | $4,669 per semester full-time (resident) Plus $3,020 per semester out-of-state | Two semesters | $9,338 resident per year $15,378 nonresident per year | $890 per semester (program and services, technology, and facilities fees), plus a $15 media fee |
| University of Memphis B.A. Earth Sciences | $4,872 per semester at 12–18 credits (resident) $7,320 per semester at 12 credits, or $610 per credit with no maximum (nonresident) | 15 credits per semester, two semesters | $9,744 resident per year $18,300 nonresident per year | University service fee $84 per credit, capped at $1,008 per semester |
| Tennessee Tech B.S. Geosciences | $5,460 per semester at 12+ credits (resident) Plus $2,100 per semester out-of-state | Two semesters | $10,920 resident per year $15,120 nonresident per year | Program service fee $838 per semester |
| UT Knoxville B.A. Geography, B.S. GIST | $5,780 per semester at 12+ credits (resident, Fall 2026) Plus $10,056 per semester out-of-state | Two semesters at the Fall 2026 rate | $11,560 resident per year $31,672 nonresident per year | $1,232 per semester in fees for residents (nonresidents pay a $495 facilities fee instead of $324); a $175 per credit Natural Sciences differential may apply |
| Rhodes College GIS certificate (with a bachelor’s degree) | $30,120 per semester, same for all students | Two semesters | $60,240 per year | $320 activity fee and $500 health and wellness fee per year |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State GIS Graduate Certificate | $549 per credit (resident) $823.50 per credit eRate for out-of-state students taking only online courses | 12 credits | $6,588 resident total $9,882 eRate total | Program service fee $143 per credit, capped at $1,144 per semester ($33 per credit with eRate); online course fees |
| University of Memphis GIS Graduate Certificate (UofM Global) | $697 per credit, same for residents and nonresidents, including the university service fee | 12 credits | $8,364 total | Included in the rate |
| Tennessee State M.S. Environmental Science, Geospatial Sciences | $539 per credit (resident) Plus $642 per credit out-of-state | 9 credits per semester, two semesters | $9,702 resident per year $21,258 nonresident per year | Program service fee $97 per credit, capped at $774 per semester |
| East Tennessee State M.S. Geosciences | $549 per credit for credits 1–10 (resident) Plus $7,560 per semester out-of-state at 9 credits | 9 credits per semester, two semesters | $9,882 resident per year $25,002 nonresident per year | Program service fee $143 per credit, capped at $1,144 per semester |
| University of Memphis M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Earth Sciences | $600 per credit, $6,000 per semester at 10+ credits (resident) $846 per credit with no maximum (nonresident) | 9 credits per semester, two semesters | $10,800 resident per year $15,228 nonresident per year | University service fee $97 per credit, capped at $970 per semester |
| Middle Tennessee State M.S. Geosciences | $623 per credit for credits 1–10 (resident) $1,722 per credit for credits 1–10 (nonresident) | 9 credits per semester, two semesters | $11,214 resident per year $30,996 nonresident per year | Program services fee $99 per credit, capped at $1,188 per semester |
| UT Knoxville M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography | $5,734 per semester at 9 credits (resident, Fall 2026) Plus $9,094 per semester out-of-state | 9 credits per semester, two semesters at the Fall 2026 rate | $11,468 resident per year $29,656 nonresident per year | $1,232 per semester in fees for residents (nonresidents pay a $495 facilities fee instead of $324) |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Martin, and Tennessee Tech charge a flat full-time rate, while Austin Peay, ETSU, MTSU, and Tennessee State charge a lower per-credit rate above 12 undergraduate credits. At 12 credits per semester, the per-credit schools cost less than shown here.
- UT Knoxville posts rates by semester. Its estimates assume the Fall 2026 rate also applies in Spring 2027.
- Graduate assistantships at UT Knoxville, Memphis, and other schools can cover tuition, so the published rate may not be what a funded student pays.
- ETSU’s graduate schedule lists out-of-state tuition of $841 per credit but a 9-credit total of $7,560. The table uses the printed 9-credit total.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Tennessee
Broad geography or technical GIS
Most Tennessee options are concentrations inside geosciences or environmental science degrees, so check how many GIS courses the concentration requires. The most GIS-focused bachelor’s options are UT Knoxville’s B.S. in GIST, MTSU’s and ETSU’s Geospatial Science concentrations, Tennessee Tech’s Geospatial Data Analysis concentration, UTC’s Geospatial Science degree, and UT Martin’s GIS concentration. Read more about GIScience degrees and bachelor’s programs.
Starting at a community college
No Tennessee community college currently offers a GIS credential, but several offer geography courses and transfer degrees. In-state community college tuition is $197 per credit hour for 2026–27, according to the Tennessee Board of Regents. Students who plan to transfer should confirm which courses a four-year geosciences program will accept.
Master’s or Ph.D.
Master’s options include UT Knoxville’s M.S. in Geography, Memphis’s M.S. and M.A. in Earth Sciences, ETSU’s thesis-based Geospatial Analysis M.S., MTSU’s Geosciences M.S., and Tennessee State’s Geospatial Sciences M.S. Only UT Knoxville and Memphis offer doctoral study with a geography focus. Students who already work in GIS may prefer the 12-credit graduate certificates. See master’s programs.
Online or campus
Every geography and GIS degree in Tennessee is campus-based. The online graduate GIS certificates at Memphis and ETSU are the only verified fully online credit options. Students who need a fully online degree can compare online geography schools based in other states.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 14, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule unless a row notes otherwise.
- University of Tennessee campuses: UT Knoxville tuition detail, UT Chattanooga fee schedule, UT Martin 2026–27 undergraduate fees (PDF)
- Locally governed universities: University of Memphis fees, MTSU undergraduate (PDF), MTSU graduate (PDF), ETSU undergraduate (PDF), ETSU graduate (PDF), Austin Peay tuition, Tennessee Tech tuition, Tennessee State fees
- Private college: Rhodes College expenses
- Community colleges: Tennessee Board of Regents 2026–27 tuition announcement
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.