Colorado has 20 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 12 public universities, the University of Denver, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and 6 two-year colleges. CU Boulder, CU Denver, and the University of Denver offer doctoral study. Fully online options include GIS master’s degrees at Colorado School of Mines and the University of Denver, and geography associate degrees at two community colleges.
Quick picks for Colorado
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: University of Northern Colorado, $9,739.50 per year.
- Lowest-cost GIS certificate: Aims Community College, $828 in-district total for 9 credits.
- Online GIS master’s degrees: Colorado School of Mines ($35,940 total) and the University of Denver ($41,232 total).
- Online associate degrees: Front Range Community College and Pikes Peak State College, each with an A.A. in Geography.
- Ph.D. programs: CU Boulder, CU Denver, and the University of Denver.
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Colorado Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography GIS and Computational Science Certificate | Campus (Boulder) | B.A. major: 37–45 B.S. major area: 39–66 Certificate: 18–20 | B.S. requires a GIScience or physical geography concentration |
| University of Colorado Denver | B.A. in Geography (four options) GIScience Undergraduate Certificate | Campus (Denver) | B.A.: 120 (major 33–45) Certificate: 18 | Urban Studies and Planning option linked to the planning master’s |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies Undergraduate Certificate in GIScience | B.A.: campus Certificate: campus and hybrid | B.A.: 120 (major 41 minimum) Certificate: 20 | Capstone “summit” course such as field studies or a senior thesis |
| Colorado State University | B.S. in Geography | Campus (Fort Collins) | 120 | Two geospatial methods courses and a capstone seminar |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Geography Certificate | Campus (Pueblo) | 9 | Short certificate; a GIS course is optional |
| University of Northern Colorado | B.A. in Geography (four concentrations) GIS and Cartography Certificate Drone Operations and Spatial Analytics Certificate | In person (Greeley) | B.A.: 120 (major 46–49) Certificates: 12 each | Two-course senior capstone in every concentration |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | B.A. in Geography GIS Certificate | B.A.: in person (Denver) Certificate: in person, hybrid, or fully online | B.A.: 120 (major 40) Certificate: 17 | Required capstone; certificate has a fully online option |
| Colorado Mesa University | B.A. in Applied Anthropology and Geography GIS and Technology Professional Certificate Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and post-baccalaureate certificate in Land Surveying and Geomatics | Campus (Grand Junction); surveying certificate in an online format | B.A.: 120 (major 46) GIS certificate: 16–18 A.A.S.: 61 Surveying certificate: 37–39 | Combined anthropology and geography major; surveying licensure preparation |
| Fort Lewis College | GIS Certificate | Not stated (Durango) | 16–20 | Vector, raster, and web mapping courses with a surveying option |
| Western Colorado University | GIS Certificate | Not stated (Gunnison) | 15 minimum | Drone imagery and satellite remote sensing electives |
| Adams State University | Undergraduate Certificate in GIS | Face-to-face (Alamosa) | 16 | Includes programming, field methods, and remote sensing |
| University of Denver | B.A. in Geography B.S. in Geographic Information Science | Campus (Denver) | 183 quarter credits Major: 45 (B.A.) or 60 (B.S.) | B.S. requires a computer science or mathematics minor |
| U.S. Air Force Academy | B.S. with a Geospatial Science major | Residential (cadets only) | 135.75 semester hours (major 42) | Geospatial intelligence courses and certificate |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography Remote Sensing Graduate Certificate (aerospace engineering) | Campus (Boulder) | M.A.: 30 Ph.D.: 30 coursework + 30 dissertation Certificate: 12 minimum | Thesis-only M.A.; GRE not required |
| University of Colorado Denver | M.A. in Applied Geography and Geospatial Science Ph.D. in Geography, Planning, and Design Three GIS graduate certificates M.S. and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Civil Engineering, Geomatics and GIS specialty | M.A., Ph.D., and two certificates: campus Civil engineering degrees: 100% online | M.A.: 36 Ph.D.: 66 Certificates: 12, 15, 18 M.S. and M.Eng.: 30 | Thesis or non-thesis M.A. with a community research practicum |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | M.A. in Applied Geography Graduate Certificate in GIScience | M.A.: campus Certificate: campus and hybrid | M.A.: 30 Certificate: 20 | Thesis required |
| Colorado School of Mines | M.S. (non-thesis) in GIS and GeoInformatics Graduate Certificate in GIS and GeoInformatics | Fully online | M.S.: 30 Certificate: 12 | Two real-world project courses; 8-week sessions |
| University of Denver | M.A. in Geography M.S. in Geographic Information Science (campus and online programs) Ph.D. in Geography | Campus; M.S. also online | M.A.: 45 quarter credits M.S.: 48 Ph.D.: 117 | Client-based capstone in the M.S. |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. The University of Denver uses quarter credits; all other schools use semester credits. Minors are not listed.
Community College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Range Community College | Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Geography | 60 | 100% online, or at Boulder County, Larimer, and Westminster campuses |
| Front Range Community College | Geospatial Science A.A.S. and Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) | 60 / 120 | HyFlex: weekly class on campus or live online, plus field days on campus |
| Front Range Community College | GIS certificates (Foundations of GIS; GIS; Natural Resources GIS; UAS for Resource Management) | 12 / 29 / 9 / 24 | HyFlex for the GIS certificates |
| Pikes Peak State College | A.A. in Geography | 60 | Can be completed fully online |
| Arapahoe Community College | A.A. in Geography | 60 | Not stated (Littleton) |
| Northeastern Junior College | A.A. in Geography | 60 | Not stated (Sterling) |
| Aims Community College | A.A. in Geography GIS Certificate CAD/GIS Certificate | 60 9 9–10 | Not stated (Greeley, Fort Lupton, Loveland) |
| Colorado Mountain College | GIS Certificate | 16 | Hybrid; fully remote participation is possible |
The geography A.A. follows Colorado’s statewide transfer agreement. Graduates who are admitted to a participating B.A. in Geography enter with junior standing and no more than 60 credits remaining. Participating universities are CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS, MSU Denver, and the University of Northern Colorado.
Related Urban Planning Programs
CU Denver’s 54-credit Master of Urban and Regional Planning teaches GIS in its core workshop but is not a GIS degree. The catalog describes it as the only accredited graduate planning degree in Colorado. See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Colorado
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
- Colorado School of Mines: the 30-credit M.S. (non-thesis) and the 12-credit Graduate Certificate in GIS and GeoInformatics are both described as fully online.
- University of Denver: the M.S. in Geographic Information Science has a separate online program, with its own tuition rate.
- CU Denver: the M.S. and M.Eng. in Civil Engineering are listed as 100% online with a Geomatics and GIS specialization. These are civil engineering degrees, not geography degrees.
- MSU Denver: the 17-credit undergraduate GIS Certificate can be earned fully online.
- Front Range Community College and Pikes Peak State College: each lists its A.A. in Geography among degrees that can be completed fully online.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- UCCS GIScience certificates: delivery is listed as on campus and hybrid. The department says online completion is possible, but with a limited number of online course offerings.
- CU Denver GIS and Geomatics Graduate Certificate: the catalog says all GIS graduate courses in civil engineering are online, but the certificate page does not state a delivery format.
- Front Range Community College geospatial programs: the college says these are HyFlex and “not an online program.” Students attend a weekly class on campus or live online and come to campus for field days.
- Colorado Mountain College GIS Certificate: hybrid, with fully remote participation possible for students with a capable computer.
- Colorado Mesa University surveying certificate: offered in an online format, but it includes field courses and an internship, and the catalog does not say how those are delivered.
- CU Denver M.A.: students may take at most two online courses without a petition.
No Colorado university describes a geography bachelor’s degree as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Colorado School Summaries
University of Colorado Boulder
CU Boulder offers a B.A. and a B.S. in Geography. The B.A. requires 37–45 geography credits, including Statistics and Geographic Data, a mapping course, and a methods course. Students can add a concentration such as GIScience, human geography, or physical geography. The B.S. requires a concentration in GIScience or physical geography, plus math and computing or science courses outside the department. Neither degree requires a capstone or internship.
The GIS and Computational Science Certificate is a joint program with computer science. It takes 18–20 credits beyond its prerequisites, and its courses must be taken at CU Boulder.
The M.A. requires 30 credits, including a thesis of 4–6 credits. The Ph.D. requires 30 credits of coursework and 30 of dissertation. The department does not require the GRE and sets a 3.0 minimum GPA. It says assistantships and fellowships may be available, typically for two years of the M.A. and four years of the Ph.D., but that admission does not promise funding.
Sources: Geography B.A.; Geography B.S.; GIS certificate; Geography M.A.; Geography Ph.D.; graduate admissions; graduate funding.
University of Colorado Denver
CU Denver’s B.A. in Geography is an on-campus program with four options: general Geography (33 major credits), Environment, Society and Sustainability (39), Environmental Science (45), and Urban Studies and Planning (39). All begin with The Power of Maps, an introduction to geospatial science. An internship is optional but recommended. For its online programs, see our CU Denver Online GIS and Geomatics Certificate and Master’s profile.
The 36-credit M.A. in Applied Geography and Geospatial Science includes Applied Spatial Statistics and a Community-Based Research Practicum, with a thesis or non-thesis route. It requires a 3.0 GPA and two letters, and the GRE is not required. Teaching and research assistantships are available but not guaranteed. The Ph.D. in Geography, Planning, and Design, in the College of Architecture and Planning, requires 66 credits.
- GIScience certificates: 18 credits each at the undergraduate and graduate levels, covering remote sensing, introductory GIS, and cartography.
- Geospatial Information Science Graduate Certificate: 15 credits in the College of Architecture and Planning, built around GIS for urban planning.
- GIS and Geomatics Graduate Certificate: 12 credits (four courses) in civil engineering.
- Civil Engineering M.S. and M.Eng., Geomatics and GIS specialty: 30 credits each and 100% online. The M.Eng. is aimed at students without an engineering bachelor’s degree.
Sources: Geography B.A.; Applied Geography and Geospatial Science M.A.; Geography, Planning, and Design Ph.D.; GIScience graduate certificate; GIS and Geomatics certificate; online Civil Engineering M.S..
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
UCCS offers a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies with at least 41 credits in the major. Students choose one techniques course from Digital Earth, Introduction to GIS, or Remote Sensing of the Environment, and finish with a summit course such as Field Studies or a senior thesis.
Two 20-credit GIScience certificates, undergraduate and graduate, require Introduction to GIS, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Analysis and Modeling, plus two electives. Both are open to non-degree students.
The M.A. in Applied Geography takes 30 credits: 24 of coursework and a 6-credit thesis. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA and three letters. The program pages do not mention the GRE. Teaching and research assistantships are awarded competitively.
Sources: B.A. program page; undergraduate GIScience certificate; graduate GIScience certificate; M.A. program page.
Colorado State University
Colorado State offers a B.S. in Geography on its Fort Collins campus. Required courses include Mapping, Cartography, and Spatial Thinking and Cultural Geography, plus two geospatial methods courses chosen from options such as GIS for Social Scientists, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Analysis with GIS. The degree ends in a one-credit capstone seminar. An internship is recommended but not required.
Colorado State has no graduate degree or certificate in geography or GIS. The department’s graduate programs are in anthropology.
Sources: Geography B.S.; department catalog page.
Colorado State University Pueblo
CSU Pueblo offers a 9-credit Geography Certificate. Students choose three courses from Physical Geography, Cultural Geography, World Regional Geography, Colorado Geography, and Applied Geospatial Technology. No GIS course is required. There is no geography major.
Sources: Geography certificate.
University of Northern Colorado
UNC’s B.A. in Geography has four concentrations: Geographic Information Science (49 major credits), Community Development, Field Studies, and Regional Studies (46 each). All include Introduction to GIS and GPS, a professional development course, Quantitative Techniques, and a two-course senior capstone. The GIS concentration adds Cartography and Geographic Information Science, plus four courses chosen from options such as Geospatial Programming, Web Mapping, and Remote Sensing. Community Development is the planning-oriented concentration.
Two 12-credit certificates are open to degree and non-degree students: GIS and Cartography, and Drone Operations and Spatial Analytics, which prepares students for the FAA Part 107 drone license. UNC has no graduate geography program.
Sources: B.A. program page; GIS concentration; GIS and Cartography certificate; drone certificate.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
MSU Denver’s B.A. in Geography requires 40 major credits. Every student takes Geographic Information Systems, Geography Methods and Applications, and a capstone. The 24 elective credits can focus on GIScience, physical geography, sustainability, or urban and regional planning.
The 17-credit GIS Certificate covers courses such as Cartography, Web Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Databases. It requires a 3.0 GPA in certificate courses and is offered in person, hybrid, or fully online.
Sources: Geography B.A.; GIS certificate; online GIS certificate.
Colorado School of Mines
Mines has no geography department. Its online M.S. (non-thesis) in GIS and GeoInformatics requires 30 credits: Applications of GIS, two real-world project courses, and seven electives such as Python Scripting for GIS, Applied Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Big Data Analytics. Courses run in 8-week sessions. The GRE is not required, and two letters are needed.
The 12-credit Graduate Certificate requires Applications of GIS and three electives, with no GRE or letters. Its courses count toward the M.S. Mines does not advertise assistantships for this program.
Sources: catalog; M.S. program page; certificate program page.
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa offers a B.A. in Applied Anthropology and Geography, a combined major rather than a standalone geography degree. Its 46-credit major includes Human Geography, Introduction to Cartography, GIS for Social Scientists, and Introduction to GIS.
The 16–18 credit GIS and Technology Professional Certificate adds GIS Data Management and Editing and Spatial Analysis and Modeling. It is aimed at graduates returning to school.
CMU Tech offers a 61-credit A.A.S. in Land Surveying and Geomatics and a 37–39 credit post-baccalaureate certificate with an internship or capstone project. The catalog says the A.A.S. meets Colorado’s education requirement for surveying licensure exams.
Sources: Applied Anthropology and Geography B.A.; GIS certificate; surveying A.A.S.; surveying certificate.
Fort Lewis College
Fort Lewis has no geography major. Its GIS Certificate requires Introduction to Computer Mapping and GIS, GIS Programming and Web Mapping, Vector GIS, and Raster GIS. Students then add either Introduction to Remote Sensing or a geomatics and surveying course with pre-calculus, for 16–20 credits. Students in any major can earn it.
Sources: GIS certificate catalog; program page.
Western Colorado University
Western’s GIS Certificate requires at least 15 credits: Our Digital Earth, Introduction to GIS, and 9 credits from courses such as UAV Imagery Acquisition, Satellite Remote Sensing, Web GIS, and Geospatial Analysis. An internship can count as an elective. Western has a geography minor but no major.
Sources: GIS certificate catalog; program page.
Adams State University
Adams State offers a 16-credit Undergraduate Certificate in GIS, taught face-to-face. Courses are Fundamentals of Programming, Geospatial Field Methods, Geospatial Sciences, Introduction to Cartography and GIS, Advanced GIS with Environmental Applications, and Remote Sensing.
Sources: GIS certificate.
University of Denver
The University of Denver uses quarter credits. Its Department of Geography and the Environment offers a B.A. in Geography (45 major credits) and a B.S. in Geographic Information Science (60). Both include Geographic Statistics, Computer Cartography, and Introduction to GIS. The B.S. adds GIS Database Design, Remote Sensing, and Python, and requires a minor in computer science or mathematics.
The M.A. in Geography requires 45 credits and a thesis. The M.S. in Geographic Information Science requires 48 credits and ends in a capstone project instead of a thesis. It is offered on campus and as an online program that admits students in all four quarters. The Ph.D. requires 117 credits, and applicants need a master’s degree.
The university’s minimum GPA for graduate admission is 2.5, and the 2026–27 application pages do not list a GRE requirement. The department says a limited number of teaching assistantships carry a stipend and full tuition scholarship.
Sources: undergraduate bulletin; graduate bulletin; online M.S. admission; M.S. tuition and funding.
U.S. Air Force Academy
The Air Force Academy, a federal service academy near Colorado Springs, offers a Geospatial Science major to its cadets. The 42-hour major includes Map Design and Graphic Communication, Introduction to GIS, Remote Sensing and Imagery Analysis, and human and physical geography. Advanced options include UAS Photogrammetry and Geospatial Intelligence. It ends in a capstone seminar or capstone research. Cadets are not charged tuition, and the program is open only to those admitted to the Academy.
Sources: Geospatial Science program.
Community Colleges
Front Range Community College has the state’s largest two-year geospatial program. It offers a 12-credit Foundations of GIS Certificate, a 29-credit GIS Certificate, and a 60-credit Geospatial Science A.A.S. that adds drone and land surveying courses and ends in an internship or capstone. A 120-credit Geospatial Science B.A.S. is also offered. Front Range, Pikes Peak State, Arapahoe, Northeastern Junior College, and Aims each offer the 60-credit A.A. in Geography.
Aims Community College also has two 9-credit GIS certificates. Colorado Mountain College offers a 16-credit GIS Certificate of upper-division courses that ends in a career project.
Sources: Front Range geospatial science; Front Range geography; Pikes Peak State geography; Arapahoe geography; Northeastern geography; Aims geography; Colorado Mountain College GIS; statewide transfer degrees.
Schools not included
- Colorado College has no geography major, minor, or GIS credential. It offers GIS courses through its Environmental Program.
- University of Denver GIS certificates: the graduate GIS certificates of the College of Professional Studies (formerly University College) do not appear in the 2026–27 bulletin.
- Adams State University geosciences bachelor’s degrees, including a physical geography emphasis, are not in the 2026–27 catalog, and the department is not accepting applications.
- CSU Global, Regis University, Colorado Christian University, and Naropa University list no geography or GIS credential.
- Red Rocks, Trinidad State, Community College of Denver, and Community College of Aurora do not list a geography degree in their current catalogs.
- Colorado School of Mines geology and geological engineering degrees are not geography programs.
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. Resident undergraduate rates are shown after Colorado’s College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend of $116 per credit.
Undergraduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Boulder Geography B.A. and B.S. | $6,987 per semester at the base rate; $9,015 at the natural sciences rate (resident, 12+ credits) $22,509 or $24,379 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | Resident: $13,974 to $18,030 per year Nonresident: $45,018 to $48,758 per year | $519.76 per semester |
| CU Denver Geography B.A. | $417 per credit (resident) $1,245 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits per year | $12,510 resident per year $37,350 nonresident per year | About $391 per term plus $14.32 per credit; college fees of $15.33 per credit and $105.97 per term |
| UCCS Geography and Environmental Studies B.A. | $382 per credit (resident; $5,730 at 15 credits) $1,007 per credit (nonresident; $15,105 at 15 credits) | Two 15-credit semesters | $11,460 resident per year $30,210 nonresident per year | Several per-term and per-credit fees |
| Colorado State University Geography B.S. | $5,682.09 per semester (resident, 12–18 credits) $17,466.43 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $11,364.18 resident per year $34,932.86 nonresident per year | About $1,447 per semester at 15 credits; juniors and seniors pay $66 more per geography credit |
| University of Northern Colorado Geography B.A. | $4,869.75 per semester at 15 credits (resident) $13,047.00 per semester (nonresident) | Two 15-credit semesters | $9,739.50 resident per year $26,094.00 nonresident per year | About $1,557 per semester at 15 credits |
| MSU Denver Geography B.A. | $326.25 per credit (resident) $1,024.70 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits per year | $9,787.50 resident per year $30,741.00 nonresident per year | $1,079.57 per semester at 15 credits |
| MSU Denver GIS Certificate (online option) | $326.25 per credit (resident) $1,024.70 per credit (nonresident) | 17 credits | $5,546.25 resident total $17,419.90 nonresident total | $655.56 per semester at 6 credits |
| Colorado Mesa University Applied Anthropology and Geography B.A. | $336.90 per credit (resident) $931.70 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits per year | $10,107.00 resident per year $27,951.00 nonresident per year | $45.80 per credit |
| Fort Lewis College GIS Certificate | $347 per credit (resident) $876 per credit (nonresident) | 16 credits | $5,552 resident total $14,016 nonresident total | $90.50 per credit |
| Western Colorado University GIS Certificate | $318 per credit (resident) $890 per credit (nonresident) | 15 credits | $4,770 resident total $13,350 nonresident total | $144.45 at one credit to $2,031.99 at 15 credits per semester |
| Adams State University GIS Certificate | $269 per credit (resident) $787 per credit (nonresident) | 16 credits | $4,304 resident total $12,592 nonresident total | About $151 per credit |
| CSU Pueblo Geography Certificate | $315.86 per credit (resident) $692.80 per credit (nonresident) | 9 credits | $2,842.74 resident total $6,235.20 nonresident total | $418.25 at one credit to $1,697.43 at 15 credits per semester |
| University of Denver Geography B.A. and GIScience B.S. | $21,240 per quarter (12–18 credits) | Three quarters | $63,720 per year | $8 per credit, plus $432 per quarter |
| Community college system (Front Range, Pikes Peak State, Arapahoe, Northeastern) A.A. in Geography or Geospatial Science A.A.S. | $183.75 per credit on campus; $301.85 online (resident) $754.25 on campus; $460.30 online (nonresident) | 60 credits | Resident: $11,025 total on campus; $18,111 total online Nonresident: $45,255 total on campus; $27,618 total online | $17.95 per term, plus college fees of about $11–$17 per credit |
| Front Range Community College GIS certificates | $183.75 per credit (resident, on campus) | 12 or 29 credits | 12 credits: $2,205 resident total 29 credits: $5,328.75 resident total | $30 per GIS course, plus college fees |
| Aims Community College A.A. in Geography and GIS Certificate | $92 per credit (in-district) $146 (in-state) $515 (out-of-state) | A.A. 60 credits; certificate 9 credits | A.A.: $5,520 in-district total; $8,760 in-state total; $30,900 out-of-state total Certificate: $828 in-district total; $1,314 in-state total; $4,635 out-of-state total | $13 per credit, plus $25 per semester |
| Colorado Mountain College GIS Certificate | $110 per credit (in-district) $220 (in-state) $560 (out-of-state) | 16 credits | $1,760 in-district total $3,520 in-state total $8,960 out-of-state total | $5 per credit |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Boulder Geography M.A. and Ph.D. | $7,527 per semester (resident, 9+ credits) $19,290 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $15,054 resident per year $38,580 nonresident per year | $445.33 per semester; waived for eligible graduate assistants |
| CU Denver M.A. Applied Geography and Geospatial Science; GIScience Graduate Certificate | $496 per credit (resident) $1,534 per credit (nonresident) | M.A. 36 credits; certificate 18 credits | M.A.: $17,856 resident total; $55,224 nonresident total Certificate: $8,928 resident total; $27,612 nonresident total | About $391 per term plus $14.32 per credit; $15.33 per credit college fee |
| CU Denver Civil Engineering M.S. or M.Eng., GIS specialty (online) | $756 per credit (resident) $887 per credit (nonresident, online) | 30 credits | $22,680 resident total $26,610 nonresident total | $44.30 per credit college fee, plus term fees; some campus fees are optional for online-only students |
| UCCS M.A. Applied Geography | $6,661 per semester at 9 credits (resident) $13,303 per semester (nonresident) | Two 9-credit semesters | $13,322 resident per year $26,606 nonresident per year | Several per-term and per-credit fees |
| Colorado School of Mines (online) M.S. and Graduate Certificate in GIS and GeoInformatics | $1,198 per credit, any residency | M.S. 30 credits; certificate 12 credits | M.S.: $35,940 total Certificate: $14,376 total | $102 per semester |
| University of Denver M.A. Geography and M.S. GIScience (campus) | $1,718 per quarter credit | M.A. 45 credits; M.S. 48 credits | M.A.: $77,310 total M.S.: $82,464 total | $8 per credit, plus $315 per quarter |
| University of Denver M.S. GIScience (online program) | $859 per quarter credit | 48 credits | $41,232 total | $8 per credit; the health fee does not apply to online programs |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- CU Boulder charges undergraduates by program tier. Its rate sheets do not name the tier for geography, so both the base and natural sciences rates are shown.
- The COF stipend applies only to eligible Colorado residents who authorize it. Aims and Colorado Mountain College are local district colleges with their own rates.
- Community college online courses cost residents more than campus courses, but cost nonresidents less.
- Fort Lewis, Western, and Adams State charge a flat rate for full-time enrollment, so a certificate taken alongside a degree may add no tuition.
- The University of Denver charges per quarter credit, and its online M.S. costs half the campus rate per credit.
- UCCS publishes graduate tuition by credit load rather than at one per-credit rate, so no certificate total is shown.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Colorado
Broad geography or technical GIS
CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS, Colorado State, UNC, MSU Denver, and the University of Denver offer geography bachelor’s degrees with GIS coursework. For a more technical degree, compare the GIScience concentration in CU Boulder’s B.S., UNC’s GIS concentration, and the University of Denver’s B.S. in Geographic Information Science. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
GIS certificates of 9–20 credits are offered across the state, including at Fort Lewis, Western, and Adams State, which have no geography major. The A.A. in Geography is designed to transfer into a B.A. at five public universities. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
Mines and the University of Denver offer online GIS master’s degrees. MSU Denver has an online GIS certificate, and Front Range and Pikes Peak State offer the geography A.A. online. Geography bachelor’s degrees in Colorado are campus programs.
Research or professional master’s
CU Boulder and UCCS require a thesis, and the University of Denver’s M.A. does too. CU Denver offers both routes. The Mines M.S. and the University of Denver M.S. are project-based, non-thesis degrees. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience.
Funding
- CU Boulder: assistantships and fellowships may be available, but admission does not promise funding.
- CU Denver and UCCS: teaching and research assistantships are advertised and awarded competitively.
- University of Denver: a limited number of teaching assistantships include a stipend and full tuition scholarship.
- Mines: no assistantships are advertised for the online GIS program.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska, 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.
- CU Boulder: tuition and fee rate sheets
- CU Denver: undergraduate tuition, graduate tuition
- UCCS: fall 2026 tuition and fees
- Colorado State: tuition and fees
- CSU Pueblo: undergraduate tuition rates, fee schedule
- UNC: resident tuition, nonresident tuition
- MSU Denver: undergraduate tuition and fees
- Mines: tuition schedule
- Colorado Mesa: tuition and fees
- Fort Lewis: in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition
- Western: tuition and costs
- Adams State: resident tuition, nonresident tuition
- University of Denver: tuition and fees
- Community colleges: Front Range tuition rates, Pikes Peak State tuition, Aims tuition, Colorado Mountain College tuition
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.