Virginia has 16 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 8 public universities, 2 private universities, and 6 community colleges with GIS certificates or an associate degree. Doctoral programs are at George Mason University and Virginia Tech. Fully online bachelor’s degrees are offered by Old Dominion University, Liberty University, and George Mason, and George Mason and Liberty also offer online master’s degrees. Every community college GIS credential is campus-based or hybrid.
Quick picks for Virginia
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: James Madison University, $8,546 per year, followed by Radford University at $8,894.
- Online bachelor’s degrees: Old Dominion University (B.A. or B.S., $443 per credit for Virginia residents), Liberty University (B.S., $410 per credit full-time), and George Mason University (B.A. or B.S.).
- Online master’s degrees: George Mason (M.S. in Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, $610 per credit resident) and Liberty (M.A. in Geography and M.S. in GIS, $600 per credit full-time).
- Lowest-cost GIS credential: Paul D. Camp Community College‘s 15–17 credit GIS Technician certificate, from $2,625 total.
- Ph.D. programs: George Mason (Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences) and Virginia Tech (Geospatial and Environmental Analysis).
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Virginia Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates at Universities
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography | Campus (Fairfax) or online through Mason Online | 120 each | B.S. concentrations in Geoinformatics, Geospatial Intelligence, and Urban Science; capstone required |
| Virginia Tech | B.S. in Geography (GIScience and Technology, Environmental Geography, or Applied Climate Science option) B.A. in Geography | Campus (Blacksburg) | B.S.: 120 B.A.: 120–122 | Three new B.S. options from fall 2026; field experience required |
| Old Dominion University | B.A. and B.S. in Geography (B.S. major in Geographic Information Systems available) Geographic Information Science Certificate (undergraduate) Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments Certificate (undergraduate) | Degrees: campus (Norfolk) or fully online Certificates: campus | Degrees: 120 (36 in geography) Certificates: 15 each | Capstone paper required; certificates open to non-degree professionals |
| James Madison University | B.S. in Geography B.A. in Geography | Campus (Harrisonburg) | 120 (major 50) | Applied Geographic Information Science concentration |
| Radford University | B.S. in Geospatial Science B.A. in Geospatial Science Geospatial Intelligence Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Radford) | Degrees: 120 (major 68–72) Certificate: 17–19 | Senior capstone project; GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration |
| University of Mary Washington | B.A. in Geography B.S. with a major in Geospatial Analysis Geographic Information Science Certificate | Campus (Fredericksburg) | B.A. major: 35–36 B.S. major: 45–47 Certificate: 17 | GIS programming required in the Geospatial Analysis major |
| Liberty University | B.S. in Geography (Human Geography or Physical Geography track) | Fully online | 120 | Eight-week courses; capstone required |
| Christopher Newport University | Baccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | Campus (Newport News) | 16–17 | Internship required; open to non-degree students |
| University of Richmond | B.A. in Geography | Campus (Richmond) | 10 units in the major | Experiential learning requirement and capstone |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences M.S. in Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences Four graduate certificates: Geographic Information Science; Geospatial Intelligence; Remote Sensing and Image Processing; Environmental GIS and Biodiversity Conservation | Geoinformatics M.S.: fully online Other degrees: campus (Fairfax) Geospatial Intelligence Certificate: mostly online | M.S.: 30 (thesis) or 37 (non-thesis); Geoinformatics M.S.: 30 Ph.D.: 72 Certificates: 15–18 | Geoinformatics M.S. and Geospatial Intelligence Certificate accredited by USGIF; GRE not required |
| Virginia Tech | M.S. in Geography Ph.D. in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis Geospatial Information Technology Graduate Certificate Remote Sensing Graduate Certificate (current Virginia Tech graduate students only) | Campus (Blacksburg); Geospatial Information Technology certificate also in person in the D.C. area | M.S.: 31 Ph.D.: 90 Certificates: 12 / 10 | About nine teaching assistantships awarded each year, with tuition and stipend |
| Old Dominion University | Geographic Information Science Certificate (graduate) Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments Certificate (graduate) M.S. in Data Science and Analytics, Geospatial Analytics concentration | Coastal certificate: campus (Norfolk) Others: not stated | Certificates: 15 each M.S.: 30 | Geospatial machine learning elective in the M.S.; capstone or thesis |
| Liberty University | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography (general, GIS, Disaster Management, or Urban Planning) M.S. in Geographic Information Systems (Cartography and Remote Sensing, Commercial Logistics, or Geospatial Intelligence) | Online | 36 each | M.S. ends in a required internship |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (post-baccalaureate graduate certificate) | Campus (Richmond) | 12 | Can be completed in one academic year; credits apply to the M.U.R.P. |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed. James Madison does not offer graduate geography or GIS programs, and neither do Radford or Mary Washington.
Community College GIS Credentials
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach | Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Information Systems Technology, Geographic Information Systems specialization Geographic Information Systems Career Studies Certificate (CSC) | A.A.S.: 65 CSC: 23 | Virginia Beach Campus |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Loudoun | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) CSC | 26 | Loudoun Campus; includes a 1-credit internship |
| Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff | Geographic Information Systems CSC | 20–24 | Catalog says a distance learning option is available |
| Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap | Geographic Information Systems CSC | 16 | Not stated |
| Brightpoint Community College Chester | Surveying and Geographic Information Systems CSC (GIS track) | 21 | Chester Campus |
| Paul D. Camp Community College Franklin and Suffolk | Geographic Information Systems Technician CSC | 15–17 | Traditional or hybrid classes; only GIS 101 is offered online |
All six credentials appear in the colleges’ 2026–27 catalogs. Units are semester credits. No Virginia community college offers a geography- or GIS-named Associate of Arts or Associate of Science; Tidewater’s A.A.S. is the only GIS-named associate degree in the system.
Related Urban Planning Programs
These planning degrees require GIS coursework but are not geography or GIS degrees.
- University of Virginia: the 50-credit Master of Urban and Environmental Planning lists Digital Technology for Planning and Design (GIS) in its core and ends in a planning capstone.
- Virginia Commonwealth University: the 45-credit Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) requires Community Socioeconomic Analysis Using GIS. Credits from VCU’s GIS certificate can be applied to it.
See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Virginia
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
- Old Dominion University B.A. and B.S. in Geography: ODU’s online site says the program “is available completely online,” for first-year students or as a degree completion path with up to 90 transfer credits. ODU also lists online delivery for its GIS major. Not every class is offered online every semester. See our Old Dominion online profile.
- Liberty University B.S. in Geography: the catalog lists the delivery format as online only, with eight-week courses and no required intensives. See our Liberty University online profile.
- Liberty University M.A. in Geography and M.S. in Geographic Information Systems: both are listed as online only in the catalog. One plan page for the general M.A. also mentions a residential format.
- George Mason University M.S. in Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence: Mason Online says the degree is “offered 100% online.”
- George Mason University B.A. and B.S. in Geography: Mason Online lists the 120-credit degrees as 100% online. The catalog does not mention delivery format. See our George Mason online profile.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- George Mason Geospatial Intelligence Certificate: the catalog says the majority of its courses are available online, and Mason Online labels it 83% online.
- Radford Geospatial Intelligence Certificate: Radford describes an online, self-paced version but says it is not currently enrolling new learners.
- Southwest Virginia Community College GIS certificate: the catalog says a distance learning option is available but does not state that the whole certificate can be completed online.
- Paul D. Camp GIS Technician certificate: only GIS 101 is offered online. Other GIS courses are traditional or hybrid.
- University of Richmond GIS Professional Certificate: this six-month program through Richmond’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offered entirely online, but it is a noncredit professional certificate.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Virginia School Summaries
George Mason University
George Mason’s Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science in Fairfax offers a 120-credit B.S. in Geography with concentrations in Geoinformatics, Geospatial Intelligence, and Urban Science, and a 120-credit B.A. in Geography with Environmental Geography, Health Geography, or Geoanthropology concentrations. Both share a core of Cartographic Design, Geographic Information Systems, Quantitative Methods, and a capstone in geography and geoinformation science. The B.S. also requires Remote Sensing, Spatial Computing, and Calculus I. Mason Online lists both degrees as 100% online.
The M.S. in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences is 30 credits with a thesis or 37 credits with a comprehensive exam, built on cartography, GIS, quantitative methods, remote sensing, and geographic thought. The 30-credit M.S. in Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence is offered 100% online and includes spatial data structures, scientific data mining, and a geoinformatics capstone, with a thesis or research project. The department says it is accredited by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF). Both master’s degrees have accelerated paths for Mason undergraduates, and the GRE is not required but is encouraged for applicants seeking internal funding.
The 72-credit Ph.D. in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences requires courses across at least five of six core areas, a candidacy exam, and a dissertation. Mason also offers four graduate certificates: Geographic Information Science (15 credits), Geospatial Intelligence (18 credits, USGIF-accredited), Remote Sensing and Image Processing (15 credits), and Environmental GIS and Biodiversity Conservation (18 credits). The first three are charged a higher certificate tuition rate. The department also shares an M.S. in Earth Systems Science with Mason’s earth sciences department.
Sources: 2026–27 department catalog; Ph.D.; Mason Online geography; Mason Online Geoinformatics M.S.; Geospatial Intelligence Certificate.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography in Blacksburg offers a 120-credit B.S. in Geography with three options that start in fall 2026: Geographic Information Science and Technology, Environmental Geography, and Applied Climate Science. All share a 21-credit core that includes Principles of GIS, Maps and Mapping, and a 3-credit field experience through study abroad, field study, or research. The GIScience option adds Python programming, Modeling with GIS, Spatial Analysis in GIS, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data Science. A 120–122 credit B.A. in Geography uses the same core with restricted electives.
The 31-credit M.S. in Geography has thesis and non-thesis options, a 3.0 GPA minimum, and an optional GRE. The department says every applicant is considered for a teaching assistantship, with about nine awarded each year, each including tuition, a stipend, and a health benefits option. The 90-credit Ph.D. in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis focuses on GIS, GPS, and remote sensing, admits for fall only, and requires applicants to name an advisor who has agreed in advance.
The 12-credit Geospatial Information Technology Graduate Certificate is open to non-degree students and is listed as in person among Virginia Tech’s D.C.-area programs. The 10-credit Remote Sensing Graduate Certificate is limited to current Virginia Tech graduate students. Virginia Tech Online does not list a geospatial program.
Sources: 2026–27 undergraduate catalog; undergraduate options; M.S. catalog; M.S. funding; Ph.D.; GIT certificate; Remote Sensing certificate.
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion’s B.A. and B.S. in Geography require 36 credits of geography within a 120-credit degree, including Maps and Geographic Information, Research Design, Quantitative Methods, a writing-intensive seminar, and a capstone paper. Up to 3 internship credits count toward the major. Students can substitute a named major, including Geography with a Major in Geographic Information Systems (B.S.), with courses in GIS, remote sensing, advanced GIS, and applied cartography. ODU says the geography degree is available completely online through ODUGlobal, as well as on campus in Norfolk.
The 15-credit Geographic Information Science Certificate is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate version requires a 3.00 GPA and is open to non-degree professionals. The 15-credit Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments Certificate, run with Ocean and Earth Sciences, is also offered at both levels and ends in a capstone seminar. The 30-credit M.S. in Data Science and Analytics has a Geospatial Analytics concentration with Geospatial Data Analysis and Spatial Statistics and Modeling, and a capstone or thesis. ODU does not offer a geography master’s or Ph.D.
Sources: Geography B.S.; GIS major; ODUGlobal geography; undergraduate GIS certificate; graduate GIS certificate; Data Science M.S..
James Madison University
James Madison offers a B.S. in Geography and a B.A. in Geography, each 120 credits with a 50-credit major. The core includes Physical Geography, Human Geography, Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Cartography, and Earth Observation and Satellite Navigation Systems. Students choose an Applied Geographic Information Science concentration (cartography, intermediate GIScience, GIS programming, and remote sensing image processing), an Environmental Conservation, Sustainability and Development concentration, or a custom concentration. A research capstone is optional.
The department also runs a Geospatial Intelligence Certificate, accredited by USGIF, that geography students earn alongside their degree. It is not listed in the academic catalog. JMU has no graduate geography or GIS program.
Sources: Geography B.S.; Geography B.A.; Geospatial Intelligence Certificate.
Radford University
Radford’s Department of Geospatial and Earth Sciences offers the B.S. in Geospatial Science and B.A. in Geospatial Science, each 120 credits with a 68–72 credit major. The core includes Introduction to GIS, Fundamentals of Cartography, Spatial Analysis Techniques, Field Research Methods, and a required senior capstone project. The GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration adds Intermediate GIS, Advanced GIS with programming and web applications, Remote Sensing, and a database course. An Environmental Studies concentration is also offered. Internships are strongly recommended for the B.S.
The 17–19 credit Geospatial Intelligence Certificate combines geospatial data and GIS courses with electives in spatial data analysis, data management and visualization, and geospatial intelligence topics. An online, self-paced version is paused while Radford reorganizes its online programs. Radford has no graduate geography or GIS program.
Sources: Geospatial Science B.S.; Geospatial Science B.A.; Geospatial Intelligence Certificate; online certificate status.
University of Mary Washington
Mary Washington’s Department of Geography in Fredericksburg offers a B.A. in Geography (35–36 credit major) and a B.S. with a major in Geospatial Analysis (45–47 credits). Both share a core of human geography, landform processes, environment and society, Introduction to GIS and Cartography, and a senior seminar. The Geospatial Analysis major adds Quantitative Methods, Spatial Analysis, and GIS Programming with ArcPy, plus electives such as Remote Sensing, Mobile GIS/GNSS, Web GIS, and a GIS internship. An honors thesis is optional.
The 17-credit Geographic Information Science Certificate ends in a 1-credit capstone and is open to students in any major and to non-degree students, so it can be completed after graduation. It must be finished within four years. The university also has a Center for Spatial Analysis and Research.
Sources: Geography B.A.; Geospatial Analysis; GIS certificate; department programs.
Liberty University
Liberty, based in Lynchburg, offers the 120-credit B.S. in Geography online only, with Human Geography and Physical Geography tracks. The major core includes two GIS courses, Human Geography, Regional Studies, Geographic Research Methods, and a geography capstone. The program page says courses run eight weeks with no set login times, and up to 75% of the degree can be transferred in. General education includes required Christian worldview courses.
At the graduate level, the 36-credit M.A. in Geography has general, GIS, Disaster Management, and Urban Planning options built on a 27-credit core in research methods, GIS, quantitative analysis, and human, economic, and transport geography. The 36-credit M.S. in Geographic Information Systems has Cartography and Remote Sensing, Commercial Logistics, and Geospatial Intelligence specializations and ends in a required internship. Both list a 3.00 GPA for regular admission. The M.S. program page notes that some courses may require intensives or scheduled meetings.
Sources: Geography B.S. catalog; B.S. program page; Geography M.A.; GIS M.S.; M.S. program page.
Virginia Commonwealth University
VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers a 12-credit Certificate in Geographic Information Systems for bachelor’s degree holders. It requires Introduction to GIS in the fall and Spatial Database Management and GIS Modeling in the spring, plus two electives such as GIS for Land Use and Transportation Planning or Quantitative Geospatial Data Analysis. It can be completed in one academic year. Applicants need a 2.7 GPA over their last 60 credits and three references, and spring entry is limited to applicants with prior GIS training. All certificate credits can be applied to the M.U.R.P., M.P.A., or M.S. in Criminal Justice with a separate application. VCU does not list an undergraduate GIS certificate.
Sources: 2026–27 bulletin; Wilder School programs.
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport’s 16–17 credit Baccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems is new in the 2026–27 catalog. It requires Introduction to GIS, Mapping and Geovisualization, Programming for GIS, a GIS course in the social or environmental sciences, and a GIS-related internship. CNU says it can be completed in one academic year and is open to degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. Geography is otherwise a minor at CNU.
Sources: GIS certificate; 2026–27 undergraduate catalog.
University of Richmond
Richmond’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability offers a B.A. in Geography of 10 units, including Introduction to Sustainability, two Planet Earth courses on human and physical geography, Foundations of Geospatial Analysis, a statistics or methods course, and a geography capstone. Majors also complete an internship, field work, or study abroad. The department runs a Spatial Analysis Lab. Richmond’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies separately offers a six-month, noncredit GIS Professional Certificate online.
Sources: major requirements; GIS Professional Certificate.
Community Colleges
Six of Virginia’s 23 community colleges list GIS credentials. Most are career studies certificates built from the same statewide GIS courses, such as GIS I and II, Cartography for GIS, GIS 3-Dimensional Analysis, and Introduction to Remote Sensing. Tidewater Community College offers the only GIS-named associate degree, a 65-credit A.A.S. specialization within Information Systems Technology that pairs six GIS courses with networking and programming courses, plus a 23-credit certificate. NOVA‘s 26-credit certificate at its Loudoun Campus adds World Regional Geography, Python programming, and an internship.
Southwest Virginia (20–24 credits) and Mountain Empire (16 credits, with a drafting seminar or internship) serve Southwest Virginia. Brightpoint‘s 21-credit certificate combines a surveying and CAD core with a GIS track and is eligible for the state’s G3 tuition assistance program. Paul D. Camp‘s 15–17 credit certificate can be finished in one semester by a full-time student, according to the college.
Sources: Tidewater A.A.S.; Tidewater certificate; NOVA certificate; Southwest Virginia certificate; Mountain Empire certificate; Brightpoint certificate; Camp certificate.
Schools not included
- University of Virginia: no geography or GIS degree or certificate. Its planning degrees are listed under related planning programs.
- William & Mary: its Geographic Information Science post-baccalaureate certificate is temporarily suspended in the 2026–27 catalog. A Geospatial Analysis minor remains.
- Minor only: Emory & Henry University (geography), Longwood University (geography and GIS), and Shenandoah University (geography).
- No geography or GIS credential: Norfolk State, Virginia State, Hampton, Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee, UVA Wise, Bridgewater, Roanoke, Ferrum, Regent, Marymount, Batten University (formerly Virginia Wesleyan), Randolph-Macon, Averett, Mary Baldwin, Hollins, Sweet Briar, and the University of Lynchburg.
- Community colleges without a GIS credential: the other 17 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Drone and surveying certificates at several colleges are not GIS-named.
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 unless the row says so.
Undergraduate and associate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University B.S. or B.A. in Geography | $4,273 per semester (resident, 12+ credits) $13,177 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $8,546 resident per year $26,354 nonresident per year | $3,111 comprehensive fee per semester |
| Radford University B.S. or B.A. in Geospatial Science | $4,447 per semester (resident, 12–18 credits) $11,446 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $8,894 resident per year $22,892 nonresident per year | $2,191 comprehensive fee and $60 technology fee per semester; nonresidents add a $234 capital fee |
| Radford University Geospatial Intelligence Certificate | $369 per credit (resident) $953 per credit (nonresident) | 17 credits, part-time | $6,273 resident total $16,201 nonresident total | $184 comprehensive fee and $5 technology fee per credit |
| University of Mary Washington B.A. in Geography; Geospatial Analysis B.S. | $4,794.50 per semester (resident, 12–18 credits) $11,723.50 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $9,589 resident per year $23,447 nonresident per year | $3,098.50 comprehensive fee per semester |
| University of Mary Washington Geographic Information Science Certificate | $370 per credit (resident, under 12 credits) $949 per credit (nonresident) | 17 credits, part-time | $6,290 resident total $16,133 nonresident total | $182 comprehensive fee per credit |
| George Mason University B.S. or B.A. in Geography | $5,376 per semester (in-state, 12–15 credits) $17,874 per semester (out-of-state) | Two semesters | $10,752 in-state per year $35,748 out-of-state per year | $2,028 mandatory student fee per semester |
| Liberty University (online) B.S. in Geography | $410 per credit full-time (12+ credits), any residency $475 per credit part-time | 30 credits per year, full-time | $12,300 per year | $349 technology fee per term |
| Old Dominion University B.A. or B.S. in Geography (campus or online) | $443 per credit (Virginia resident) $1,134 per credit (out-of-state, campus) $453 per credit (online students living outside Virginia) | 30 credits per year | $13,290 resident per year $34,020 out-of-state campus per year $13,590 out-of-state online per year | $8 per credit innovation fee; per-semester fees including $18 general services and $170 student health (6+ credits); out-of-state students add $20 per credit |
| Old Dominion University Geographic Information Science Certificate (undergraduate) | $443 per credit (resident) $1,134 per credit (out-of-state) | 15 credits | $6,645 resident total $17,010 out-of-state total | Same as above |
| Virginia Tech B.S. or B.A. in Geography | $6,969 per semester (resident, 12+ credits) $18,213.50 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $13,938 resident per year $36,427 nonresident per year | $1,574.50 per semester in comprehensive and library fees; nonresidents add a $302 facility fee |
| Christopher Newport University Baccalaureate Certificate in GIS | $731 per credit (in-state) $1,332 per credit (out-of-state) Rates include comprehensive and technology fees | 16 credits, part-time | $11,696 in-state total $21,312 out-of-state total | Included in the published rate |
| University of Richmond B.A. in Geography | $70,725 per year, same for all students | One academic year | $70,725 per year | None listed separately on the cost-of-attendance page |
| Tidewater Community College GIS A.A.S. specialization; GIS certificate | $177.00 per credit (Virginia resident) $394.10 per credit (out-of-state) | A.A.S. 65 credits; certificate 23 credits | A.A.S.: $11,505 resident total; $25,616.50 out-of-state total Certificate: $4,071 resident total; $9,064.30 out-of-state total | $30.10 per credit in local fees; out-of-state students add a $28.50 per credit capital fee |
| Northern Virginia Community College GIS certificate | $202.05 per credit (Virginia resident) $421.90 per credit (out-of-state) | 26 credits | $5,253.30 resident total $10,969.40 out-of-state total | $7.50 per credit in activity and auxiliary fees; $22.50 per credit textbook fee (opt-out); out-of-state students add $28.50 per credit |
| Southwest Virginia Community College GIS certificate | $175.00 per credit (Virginia resident) $363.60 per credit (out-of-state) | 20–24 credits | $3,500–$4,200 resident total $7,272–$8,726.40 out-of-state total | $6.75 per credit in activity and auxiliary fees; out-of-state students add $28.50 per credit |
| Brightpoint Community College Surveying and GIS certificate | $176.00 per credit (Virginia resident) $364.60 per credit (out-of-state) | 21 credits | $3,696 resident total $7,656.60 out-of-state total | $5.50 per credit in activity and auxiliary fees; out-of-state students add $28.50 per credit |
| Mountain Empire Community College GIS certificate | $175.00 per credit (Virginia resident) $392.10 per credit (out-of-state, statewide rate) | 16 credits | $2,800 resident total $6,273.60 out-of-state total | Local fees for 2026–27 not verified |
| Paul D. Camp Community College GIS Technician certificate | $175.00 per credit (Virginia resident) $392.10 per credit (out-of-state, statewide rate) | 15–17 credits | $2,625–$2,975 resident total $5,881.50–$6,665.70 out-of-state total | Technology, activity, and auxiliary fees; amounts not published |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University M.S. degrees (including the online Geoinformatics M.S.); Environmental GIS certificate | $610 per credit (in-state) $1,571 per credit (out-of-state) | M.S. 30 credits; certificate 18 credits | 30-credit M.S.: $18,300 in-state total; $47,130 out-of-state total Certificate: $10,980 in-state total; $28,278 out-of-state total | $2,028 mandatory student fee per semester full-time, or $169 per credit part-time |
| George Mason University Ph.D. in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences | $14,640 per year (in-state, full-time) $37,704 per year (out-of-state) | One academic year | $14,640 in-state per year $37,704 out-of-state per year | Same as above |
| George Mason University GIS, Geospatial Intelligence, and Remote Sensing certificates | $810 per credit (in-state) $1,771 per credit (out-of-state) | 15 credits (GIS, Remote Sensing); 18 credits (Geospatial Intelligence) | 15 credits: $12,150 in-state total; $26,565 out-of-state total 18 credits: $14,580 in-state total; $31,878 out-of-state total | Same as above |
| Virginia Tech M.S. in Geography; Ph.D. in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis | $8,354.50 per semester (resident, 9+ credits) $16,790.50 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $16,709 resident per year $33,581 nonresident per year | $1,574.50 per semester in comprehensive and library fees; nonresidents add $302. Teaching assistantships include tuition. |
| Virginia Tech Geospatial Information Technology Graduate Certificate | $928.25 per credit (resident, Blacksburg) $1,027.00 per credit (resident, extended campus such as the D.C. area) | 12 credits | $11,139 resident total (Blacksburg) $12,324 resident total (extended campus) | Fees vary by campus; nonresident rates are $1,865.50 and $1,996.75 per credit |
| Old Dominion University Graduate GIS and coastal certificates | $672 per credit (Virginia resident) $1,523 per credit (out-of-state) | 15 credits | $10,080 resident total $22,845 out-of-state total | $8 per credit innovation fee plus per-semester fees; out-of-state students add $20 per credit |
| Old Dominion University M.S. in Data Science and Analytics (Geospatial Analytics) | $672 per credit (Virginia resident) $1,523 per credit (out-of-state) | 30 credits | $20,160 resident total $45,690 out-of-state total | Same as above |
| Liberty University (online) M.A. in Geography; M.S. in GIS | $600 per credit full-time, any residency $665 per credit part-time | 36 credits | $21,600 total full-time $23,940 total part-time | $349 technology fee per term |
| Virginia Commonwealth University Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | $815 per credit (in-state) $915 per credit (out-of-state), for cohorts starting fall 2025 or later | 12 credits | $9,780 in-state total $10,980 out-of-state total | Per-credit university ($125), technology ($14), library, activity, and health fees, plus an academic support services fee; out-of-state students add $30 per credit |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Virginia public universities set large mandatory fees apart from tuition. At James Madison and Mary Washington, the comprehensive fee adds more than $6,000 a year, so JMU’s resident total is $14,768 and UMW’s is $15,786.
- Christopher Newport folds its comprehensive and technology fees into its published per-credit rates, so its figures are not tuition-only.
- Old Dominion charges every student by the credit, with no full-time flat rate. Its rates include a $162 per credit auxiliary tuition charge.
- Liberty charges the same online rate regardless of state of residence, and its full-time rate is lower than its part-time rate.
- The Virginia Community College System’s base rate of $175.00 per credit already includes a mandatory education and general fee. NOVA, Tidewater, and Brightpoint charge a higher local differential. NOVA’s own page lists $202.05 per credit, while the system-wide table lists $202.55.
- Some colleges include the $28.50 out-of-state capital fee in the statewide out-of-state rate, while Tidewater and NOVA list it on top of tuition.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Virginia
Broad geography or technical GIS
George Mason, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion, James Madison, Mary Washington, Richmond, and Liberty offer geography degrees with GIS-focused concentrations or majors. Radford’s Geospatial Science degrees and Mary Washington’s Geospatial Analysis major are more technical from the start. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Community college certificates run 15–26 credits and are the lowest-cost entry point. University certificates at Old Dominion, Radford, Mary Washington, and Christopher Newport run 15–19 credits and are open to non-degree students. For graduate study, George Mason and Virginia Tech offer research master’s degrees and Ph.D. programs, while VCU and George Mason offer graduate GIS certificates for working professionals. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
Old Dominion, Liberty, and George Mason offer fully online geography bachelor’s degrees. George Mason’s Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence M.S. and Liberty’s M.A. and M.S. are the online master’s options. Virginia Tech, James Madison, Radford, and Mary Washington programs are campus-based. See online geography schools for programs in other states.
Funding
- Virginia Tech: every M.S. applicant is considered for a teaching assistantship that includes tuition, a stipend, and a health benefits option. Applications are due January 15 for fall.
- George Mason: the GRE is optional but encouraged for graduate applicants seeking internal funding. No assistantship details are published.
- Community colleges: Brightpoint’s certificate is eligible for Virginia’s G3 tuition assistance program.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Maryland, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 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.
- George Mason: per-credit rates, annual rates, mandatory student fee
- Virginia Tech: tuition and fee rates
- Old Dominion: tuition rates
- James Madison: undergraduate tuition and fees
- Radford: tuition at a glance, per-credit rates
- Mary Washington: tuition and fees
- Liberty: undergraduate online expenses, graduate expenses
- VCU: tuition and fees calculator
- Christopher Newport: tuition
- Richmond: cost of attendance
- Virginia Community College System: 2026–27 tuition rates; Tidewater, NOVA, Southwest Virginia, and Brightpoint fee schedules
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.