Iowa has 4 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 3 public universities and 1 community college. The University of Iowa offers the state’s only geography Ph.D. The University of Northern Iowa offers geography and GIS bachelor’s degrees, a GIS and cartography certificate, and the state’s only fully online option, a non-thesis M.A. in Geography. Iowa State University has no geography degree but offers a graduate certificate in GIS. Indian Hills Community College lists a Geospatial Technology associate degree in its 2026–27 catalog. No Iowa private college lists a geography or GIS degree or certificate.
Iowa Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (Geographic Information Science or Sustainability Science track) Certificate in Geographic Information Science | Campus (Iowa City) | B.A.: 120 (major 55+) B.S.: 120 (major 69–75) Certificate: 19 | GIS track includes geospatial programming and geographic databases |
| University of Northern Iowa | B.A. in Geography B.S. in Geographic Information Science Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Cartography Certificate | Campus (Cedar Falls) | B.A.: 120 (major 40) B.S.: 120 (major 54–56) Certificate: 15 | GIS B.S. requires drones for mapping, GPS field survey, and a research experience |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography (thesis) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Campus (Iowa City) | M.A.: 30 Ph.D.: 72 | Only geography Ph.D. in Iowa; non-thesis M.A. not accepting applicants |
| University of Northern Iowa | M.A. in Geography (thesis or non-thesis) GIS and Cartography Certificate (graduate level) | Thesis M.A. and certificate: campus (Cedar Falls) Non-thesis M.A.: fully online | M.A.: 33 thesis or 30 non-thesis Certificate: 15 | No GRE; 4+1 option with the B.A. or B.S. |
| Iowa State University | Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | Campus (Ames) | 13 | Open to graduate students in any discipline; ends in a GIS application report |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. The University of Iowa’s posted catalog is labeled the first version of its 2026–27 edition. Minors are not listed.
Community College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Hills Community College | Geospatial Technology, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Location Analytics Certificate | 68 / 12 | Not verified (the catalog says both “Main Campus” and “online”) |
Indian Hills is the only Iowa community college with a GIS-named credential in its current catalog, and its website no longer lists the program, so confirm enrollment with the college. No Iowa community college lists a geography transfer pathway.
Related Urban Planning Programs
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa | Master of Science (M.S.) in Urban and Regional Planning | Campus (Iowa City) | 45 | Core includes Applied GIS for Planning and Policy Making; accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board |
Iowa State’s B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning and its Master of Urban and Regional Planning list GIS only as an elective, so they are not included. See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Iowa
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The program below has an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that do not have that statement.
Verified fully online options
- University of Northern Iowa M.A. in Geography (non-thesis): UNI Online says the 30-credit program is “delivered entirely online” with a fall start. UNI also says delivery depends on enough students being accepted. See our UNI online M.A. profile.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Indian Hills Geospatial Technology A.A.S.: the 2026–27 catalog calls it an 18-month “online program” but also says it is offered at the Ottumwa main campus, and the college’s program finder no longer lists it.
- UNI M.A. in Geography (thesis) and GIS and Cartography Certificate: the thesis track stays on campus, and the certificate is not described as online.
- Iowa State Graduate Certificate in GIS: not on Iowa State Online’s certificate list.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Iowa School Summaries
University of Iowa
Geography at the University of Iowa is now part of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES). The 120-hour B.A. in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences requires at least 55 hours in the major, including Foundations of GIS, Our Digital Earth, Globalization and Geographic Diversity, and Introduction to Sustainability. The B.S. requires 69–75 major hours and has two tracks. The Geographic Information Science track includes Geospatial Programming, Environmental Remote Sensing, Geographic Visualization, and Geographic Databases. Both degrees end in a senior project seminar or honors thesis.
The 19-hour undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science requires Foundations of GIS, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Visualization plus three electives, with at least 12 hours earned at Iowa. Students in the B.S. GIS track cannot also earn the certificate, and graduate students are not eligible.
The M.A. in Geography is a two-year, 30-hour thesis program; the non-thesis option is not accepting new applicants. The 72-hour Ph.D. in Geography includes research and writing courses, two graduate seminars, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. Applications are due December 1 and include a statement of purpose and three letters; the GRE is not listed. The school lists named awards and research and travel funds but does not promise assistantships. Iowa also offers an M.S. in Informatics with a geoinformatics subprogram, and the 45-hour M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning requires Applied GIS for Planning and Policy Making.
Sources: B.A.; B.S.; GIS certificate; M.A.; Ph.D.; graduate admissions; funding; Urban and Regional Planning M.S..
University of Northern Iowa
UNI’s geography programs are in the School of Community and Geographic Innovation. The B.A. in Geography has a 40-hour major that includes Planet Earth, Digital Earth, GIS I, and a senior seminar. The B.S. in Geographic Information Science has a 54–56 hour major with Drones for Mapping, GIS I and II, Remote Sensing, GPS Field Survey, GIS Applications, statistics, and GIS programming, ending in a research experience and senior seminar.
The 15-hour GIS and Cartography Certificate can be taken at the undergraduate or graduate level. It requires GIS I, GIS II, and Cartographic Design plus two electives, with a 3.00 GPA.
The M.A. in Geography has a 33-hour thesis option on campus and a 30-hour non-thesis option that ends in a directed research project. The non-thesis option is offered fully online, starting each fall. The GRE is not required, and the department lists a 2.75 minimum GPA. A limited number of assistantships are available for thesis students, but the department says they do not cover tuition. The 4+1 program lets B.A. or B.S. students share 6 hours per semester in their fourth year with the M.A., billed at the undergraduate rate.
Sources: B.A.; GIScience B.S.; GIS and Cartography Certificate; M.A.; online M.A.; assistantships; 4+1 program.
Iowa State University
Iowa State has no geography degree. Its Department of Urban Planning and Development offers a 13-credit Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) open to graduate students in any discipline. Students take Introduction to GIS or GIS for Geoscientists, tools courses such as Geographic Data Management, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, and GIS Programming, and a one-credit seminar in GIS applications. The certificate ends in a GIS application report, or a thesis or dissertation with approval. A B average is required.
Undergraduates can earn a 15-credit Geographic Information Science minor. Iowa State’s Earth Science B.S. requires a GIS course but is not a geography degree.
Sources: catalog; GIS certificate page; online certificate list.
Indian Hills Community College
Indian Hills’ 2026–27 catalog lists a 68-credit Geospatial Technology A.A.S. that runs six terms (18 months) with fall entry. Courses include Introduction to GIS, Introduction to Cartography, Remote Sensing, GIS Programming, and GIS Data Acquisition and Analysis, plus field projects and a 4-credit internship. Students need a handheld GPS unit and a laptop. The 12-credit Location Analytics Certificate is built from courses in the same program.
The college’s former program page now returns an error, and its online program finder no longer lists Geospatial Technology. Confirm with the college that the program is enrolling before applying.
Sources: 2026–27 catalog program page; program finder.
Schools not included
- Minor only: Drake University (Spatial and Information Technology minor).
- Geography or GIS courses, but no credential: Upper Iowa University (including online), Central College, Dordt University, Morningside University, Buena Vista University, Briar Cliff University, Graceland University, Grinnell College, Cornell College, and Simpson College.
- No geography or GIS credential: Luther College, Coe College, Wartburg College, Loras College, Clarke University, St. Ambrose University, Mount Mercy University, Northwestern College, Waldorf University, William Penn University, Grand View University, Maharishi International University, Emmaus Bible College, Faith Baptist Bible College, and the University of Dubuque.
- Community colleges without a GIS-named credential: Des Moines Area, Eastern Iowa, Hawkeye, Iowa Central, Iowa Lakes, Iowa Valley, Iowa Western, Kirkwood, North Iowa Area, Northeast Iowa, Northwest Iowa, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western Iowa Tech. Precision agriculture programs at Hawkeye, Kirkwood, and Iowa Valley (Ellsworth) use GPS and GIS but are agriculture credentials.
- Planning degrees without a GIS requirement: Iowa State’s B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning and Master of Urban and Regional Planning.
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 Iowa B.A. or B.S. in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences | $4,926 per semester (resident, 12+ hours) $16,064 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $9,852 resident per year $32,128 nonresident per year | $1,059.50 per semester |
| University of Northern Iowa B.A. in Geography; B.S. in Geographic Information Science | $4,527 per term (resident, 12+ hours) $10,789 per term (nonresident) | Two terms | $9,054 resident per year $21,578 nonresident per year | $725.50 per term |
| University of Northern Iowa GIS and Cartography Certificate (undergraduate level) | $378 per credit (resident) $900 per credit (nonresident) | 15 credits, part-time | $5,670 resident total $13,500 nonresident total | Part-time fees from $362.75 per term |
| Indian Hills Community College Geospatial Technology A.A.S. (2025–26 rate) | $228 per credit (resident) $255 per credit (nonresident) | 68 credits | $15,504 resident total $17,340 nonresident total | Course, web, or ICN fees may apply by course |
| Indian Hills Community College Location Analytics Certificate (2025–26 rate) | $228 per credit (resident) $255 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $2,736 resident total $3,060 nonresident total | Course, web, or ICN fees may apply by course |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise. Indian Hills had not published a 2026–27 rate; its 2026–27 catalog lists the rate effective fall 2025.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa M.A. or Ph.D. in Geography | $6,180 per semester (resident, 9+ hours) $15,705.50 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $12,360 resident per year $31,411 nonresident per year | $1,063 per semester |
| University of Iowa M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning | $6,180 per semester (resident, 9+ hours) $15,705.50 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $12,360 resident per year $31,411 nonresident per year | $942 per semester |
| University of Northern Iowa M.A. in Geography (campus) | $5,427 per term (resident, 9+ hours) $11,454 per term (nonresident) | Two terms | $10,854 resident per year $22,908 nonresident per year | $725.50 per term |
| University of Northern Iowa (online) M.A. in Geography (non-thesis) | $604 per credit | 30 credits | $18,120 total | $48 per course technology fee; $50 publication fee and $115 records fee, each charged once |
| University of Northern Iowa GIS and Cartography Certificate (graduate level) | $603 per credit (resident) $1,273 per credit (nonresident) | 15 credits, part-time | $9,045 resident total $19,095 nonresident total | Part-time fees from $362.75 per term |
| Iowa State University Graduate Certificate in GIS | $794 per credit (resident) $1,832 per credit (nonresident) | 13 credits, part-time | $10,322 resident total $23,816 nonresident total | $762.70 to $870.70 per semester at full time, depending on the student’s college |
Rates are 2026–27.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- The three public universities charge a flat rate above 12 undergraduate or 9 graduate hours, so full-time students pay the semester rate rather than the per-credit rate.
- UNI charges the resident undergraduate rate to students entering in fall 2025 or later from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
- UNI’s online M.A. uses a single per-credit rate. UNI notes that nonresident or supplemental tuition may be assessed in some sections.
- Iowa State graduate assistants with a quarter-time or larger appointment are assessed the full-time resident rate.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Iowa
Broad geography or technical GIS
UNI’s B.A. in Geography and Iowa’s B.A. in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences are the broad options. UNI’s B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Iowa’s B.S. GIS track are more technical, with programming, remote sensing, and spatial databases. Indian Hills’ A.A.S. is the applied technician route. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Certificates run 12 credits at Indian Hills, 13 at Iowa State (graduate only), 15 at UNI, and 19 at Iowa (undergraduate only). For graduate study, Iowa offers a thesis M.A. and the state’s only geography Ph.D., and UNI offers thesis and non-thesis M.A. options. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
UNI’s non-thesis M.A. is the only verified fully online geography credential based in Iowa, and its start depends on enrollment. Every other Iowa program listed here is campus-based or has unclear delivery. Browse online geography schools for options in other states.
Funding
- University of Iowa: named awards and research and travel funds are listed; applicants should ask the program about assistantships.
- UNI: a limited number of assistantships for thesis students, which do not cover tuition, and graduate tuition scholarships that are not guaranteed.
- Iowa State: no certificate-specific funding is listed.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, 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 rates, except Indian Hills, whose posted rate took effect in fall 2025.
- University of Iowa: tuition rate tables, tuition and fees
- University of Northern Iowa: tuition and fees, online program costs
- Iowa State University: tuition overview, mandatory fees
- Indian Hills Community College: catalog tuition and fees
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.