Maine has seven schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: six University of Maine System campuses and Husson University. Two campuses offer geography bachelor’s degrees, the University of Southern Maine and UMaine Farmington. The University of Maine in Orono offers the state’s graduate degrees, including an online master’s. GIS certificates are available at all seven schools, and most can be taken online.
Maine Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Maine | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography-Anthropology Applied GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | B.A.: blended or in person (Portland and Gorham) Certificate: blended or fully online | B.A. major: 36–37 Certificate: 12 | Applied GIS and Geospatial Analysis specialization |
| UMaine Farmington | B.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | B.A.: campus (Farmington), with an online option for the Geography path Certificate: online or blended | B.A.: 120 Certificate: 14–16 | Geography path or Environmental Policy and Planning path |
| UMaine Machias | GIS Applications Certificate GIS Applications (Advanced) Certificate | Not stated (Machias) | 15–16 24–25 | Hands-on service learning |
| UMaine Fort Kent | GIS Certificate | On campus (Fort Kent) or online | Total not stated | Remote sensing and GPS courses tied to forestry |
| UMaine Presque Isle | GIS Certificate | In person (Presque Isle) | 20 | Includes programming and web GIS |
| Husson University | GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | 100% online | 12 | Four courses using QGIS, ending in an applied project |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine | Master of Science (M.S.) in Spatial Information Science and Engineering Online M.S. in Spatial Computing (catalog name: Spatial Informatics) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Spatial Information Science and Engineering Graduate Certificate in GIS | M.S. and Ph.D.: campus (Orono), with most courses also online Online M.S. and certificate: 100% online | M.S.: 30 Ph.D.: 42 Certificate: 15 | Only graduate degrees in the state; thesis, project, or coursework options |
| University of Southern Maine | Applied GIS Certificate of Graduate Study | Blended or fully online | 12 | Credits can apply toward USM’s policy and planning master’s |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Maine
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 Maine: the 30-credit online M.S. in Spatial Computing and the 15-credit Graduate Certificate in GIS are both listed as 100% online, with no GRE required.
- University of Southern Maine: the undergraduate and graduate Applied GIS certificates can be taken blended or fully online.
- UMaine Farmington: the GIS Certificate is offered online or blended and is open to non-degree students.
- UMaine Fort Kent: the GIS Certificate is available on campus or online.
- Husson University: the 12-credit GIS Certificate is 100% online.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- UMaine Farmington B.A.: the catalog says the Geography path is available through online and face-to-face options, but Farmington does not state that the whole degree can be completed online.
- USM B.A. in Geography-Anthropology: offered in blended and in-person modes.
- University of Maine M.S. and Ph.D. in Spatial Information Science and Engineering: the catalog lists these as on-campus programs, though the school says almost all courses are also available online.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Maine School Summaries
University of Maine
The University of Maine in Orono has no geography degree. Its School of Computing and Information Science offers graduate programs in spatial information science, which focus on GIS, spatial databases, and spatial analysis. For its online programs, see our University of Maine Online GIS Certificate and Master’s profile.
- M.S. in Spatial Information Science and Engineering: 30 credits, with a thesis option or a one-semester project. Students take courses across areas such as spatial cognition, database systems, GIS, and information policy.
- Online M.S. in Spatial Computing: 30 credits of coursework. The university markets it under this name, while the 2026–27 graduate catalog still lists the online degree as Spatial Informatics. Courses include Principles of Geographic Information Systems, Information Systems Programming, Database System Applications, and GeoAI.
- Ph.D.: at least 30 course credits and 12 dissertation credits.
- Graduate Certificate in GIS: 15 credits, four required courses and one elective.
- Admissions: a 3.0 GPA is generally expected, plus a résumé with three references and a short essay. GRE scores are typically expected for thesis and Ph.D. applicants and are not required for the online M.S. or the certificate.
- Funding: admitted degree students are considered for teaching and research assistantships that pay tuition, some health costs, and a monthly stipend. Certificate students are ineligible for most aid.
Sources: M.S. program page; graduate catalog; online M.S. in Spatial Computing; online GIS certificate; admissions and aid.
University of Southern Maine
USM’s B.A. in Geography-Anthropology has three specializations: Applied GIS and Geospatial Analysis, Cultural and Natural Heritage Management, and Sustainable Cultures and Communities. The Applied GIS specialization requires Remote Sensing, GIS Applications I and II, and a capstone that can be an internship, independent study, or research project. Electives include Drone Mapping and Python Programming.
The 12-credit Applied GIS certificates are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each requires remote sensing, two GIS applications courses, and one elective. The graduate certificate requires a bachelor’s degree, a résumé, and a personal statement, and lists no GRE requirement.
Sources: Geography-Anthropology B.A.; undergraduate GIS certificate; graduate GIS certificate.
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington’s 120-credit B.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning has two paths. The Geography path (31–32 credits) includes Introduction to GIS and courses on peoples, communities, and nature and society. The Environmental Policy and Planning path (38–41 credits) adds Environmental GIS, Sustainable Land Use, a required internship, and a three-course concentration.
The 14–16 credit GIS Certificate requires Introduction to GIS, Environmental GIS, and Sustainable Land Use, plus an elective such as Mobile Mapping and GIS. Electives can also come from UMaine Machias or USM. Admission is year-round.
Sources: Geography and Environmental Planning B.A.; GIS certificate.
University of Maine at Machias
Machias, a regional campus of the University of Maine, offers two undergraduate GIS certificates. The GIS Applications Certificate (15–16 credits) requires GIS I and GIS II plus electives. The Advanced Certificate (24–25 credits) adds World Geography and more GIS electives, such as Remote Sensing and Image Analysis and Web-Based Maps, Applications and Services. At least one-third of the credits must be taken at UMaine or Machias.
Sources: GIS Applications Certificate; Advanced Certificate; Machias certificates.
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent’s GIS Certificate is available on campus or online. Listed courses are Introduction to Remote Sensing, Introduction to Global Positioning Systems, and GIS Applications I with Lab, plus electives approved by GIS faculty. The catalog does not state a credit total for the certificate.
Sources: GIS certificate catalog; forestry program page.
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle’s 20-credit GIS Certificate is taught in person. It requires Programming Fundamentals, Fundamentals of GIS, GIS Applications and Advanced Spatial Analysis, and Web GIS, plus six elective credits in computing or business.
Sources: GIS certificate catalog; GIS certificate page.
Husson University
Husson, a private university in Bangor, offers a 12-credit online GIS Certificate. Its four courses are Foundations of GIS, Cartography and Remote Sensing, GIS for Social and Natural Sciences, and an Applied GIS Project capstone. The program uses the open-source QGIS software and has multiple start dates each year.
Sources: GIS certificate page; catalog.
Schools not included
- UMaine Augusta and the University of New England offer GIS minors only. Augusta’s Crime Analysis and GIS Certificate is a justice studies credential with one GIS course.
- Unity Environmental University lists no GIS or geospatial degree or certificate in its 2026–27 catalogs.
- UMaine Machias does not list a GIS bachelor’s degree in the 2026–27 catalog; it offers the certificates above.
- Maine’s community colleges list no GIS credential. Southern Maine and Eastern Maine community colleges offer GIS courses only.
- Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, and College of the Atlantic have no geography or GIS major.
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 Southern Maine B.A. Geography-Anthropology | $329 per credit (in-state) $576 per credit (New England regional) $970 per credit (out-of-state) | 30 credits per year | $9,870 in-state per year $17,280 New England per year $29,100 out-of-state per year | $113 per credit |
| University of Southern Maine Undergraduate Applied GIS Certificate | $329 per credit (in-state) $370 per credit (fully online, all residencies) | 12 credits | $3,948 in-state total $4,440 fully online total | $113 per credit |
| UMaine Farmington B.A. Geography and Environmental Planning | $329 per credit (in-state) Published annual tuition at 30 credits: $9,870 in-state; $17,280 New England; $23,520 out-of-state | 30 credits per year | $9,870 in-state per year $17,280 New England per year $23,520 out-of-state per year | $2,334 per year |
| UMaine Farmington GIS Certificate | $329 per credit | 14–16 credits | $4,606–$5,264 total | Not listed for certificate-only students |
| UMaine Machias GIS Applications Certificate | $320 per credit (in-state) $560 per credit (New England regional) $623 per credit (out-of-state) | 15–16 credits | $4,800–$5,120 in-state total $9,345–$9,968 out-of-state total | $50 per credit |
| UMaine Fort Kent GIS Certificate | $279 per credit (in-state) $474 per credit (out-of-state) | Credit total not stated in the catalog | Not calculated | $1,725 per year at 30 credits |
| UMaine Presque Isle GIS Certificate | $279 per credit (in-state) $474 per credit (out-of-state) | 20 credits | $5,580 in-state total $9,480 out-of-state total | $50 per credit |
| Husson University GIS Certificate (online) | $448 per credit | 12 credits | $5,376 total | Comprehensive fee may apply; Husson does not say whether online certificate students pay it |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine (campus) M.S. Spatial Information Science and Engineering | $596 per credit (in-state) $1,043 per credit (New England regional) $1,817 per credit (out-of-state) | 30 credits | $17,880 in-state total $31,290 New England total $54,510 out-of-state total | Technology fee $29 per credit; activity fee up to $75 per term; spatial program fee $100 per course |
| University of Maine (online) M.S. Spatial Computing and Graduate Certificate in GIS | $651 per credit, all residencies | M.S. 30 credits; certificate 15 credits | M.S.: $19,530 total Certificate: $9,765 total | Spatial program fee $100 per course; the university does not spell out other online fees for these programs |
| University of Southern Maine Applied GIS Certificate of Graduate Study | $494 per credit (in-state) $840 per credit (New England regional) $1,494 per credit (out-of-state) $548 per credit (fully online, all residencies) | 12 credits | $5,928 in-state total $10,080 New England total $17,928 out-of-state total $6,576 fully online total | $107 per credit |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- University of Maine System campuses set their own per-credit rates, from $279 at Fort Kent and Presque Isle to $441 for undergraduates in Orono.
- New England residents from outside Maine can qualify for a reduced regional rate at Orono, Machias, USM, and Farmington.
- Online rates are flat for all residencies at USM and the University of Maine, which helps out-of-state students but costs Maine residents slightly more than the in-state campus rate.
- Farmington publishes annual tuition for nonresidents rather than a per-credit rate, and its two cost pages show slightly different fee totals.
- University of Maine assistantships cover tuition for funded graduate students.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Maine
Broad geography or technical GIS
USM and Farmington offer Maine’s two geography bachelor’s degrees, and both pair geography with another field: anthropology at USM and environmental planning at Farmington. The University of Maine’s graduate programs are more technical, with programming, databases, and spatial analysis. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Certificates are the most common credential in Maine, running 12–25 credits at all seven schools. Several are open to non-degree students. Students who want a master’s or Ph.D. have one in-state choice, the University of Maine. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
Online students can choose the University of Maine’s master’s and certificate, or GIS certificates at USM, Farmington, Fort Kent, and Husson. The Machias and Presque Isle certificates and the geography bachelor’s degrees involve campus study.
Cost
For Maine residents, a 12–16 credit certificate at a University of Maine System campus costs about $3,900 to $5,300 in tuition. Husson’s online certificate is $5,376. Out-of-state students pay less through fully online rates at USM and the University of Maine than through campus rates.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 1, 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 Maine and UMaine Machias: tuition and fees
- University of Southern Maine: undergraduate cost per credit, graduate tuition and fees
- UMaine Farmington: financial aid and costs
- UMaine Fort Kent: tuition and fees
- UMaine Presque Isle: tuition and fees
- Husson University: financial information
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.