Washington has 12 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 5 public universities and colleges, 1 private university, and 6 community and technical colleges. The University of Washington offers the state’s only Ph.D. in geography. Central Washington University offers geography B.A. and B.S. degrees, and Western Washington University and Eastern Washington University place geography inside environmental studies and geosciences degrees. No Washington school describes a geography or GIS degree as fully online; the verified online options are certificates.
Quick picks for Washington
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: Central Washington University, $7,716 per year.
- Lowest-cost GIS certificate: Skagit Valley College, 25 credits at $136.14 per credit, or $3,403.50 total.
- Online GIS certificate for credit: Eastern Washington University, 30–32 credits at $312.30 per credit.
- Bachelor of Science in geography: Central Washington University (GIScience specialization, 82–85 major credits).
- Ph.D. program: University of Washington (Seattle).
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
Washington Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates at Universities
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography (four tracks, including GIS, Mapping, and Society) B.A. in Geography: Data Science GIS Certificate (UW Tacoma) B.A. in Urban Studies and B.A. in Sustainable Urban Development, GIS option (UW Tacoma) | B.A.: campus (Seattle) Tacoma programs: campus, evening classes | B.A. major: 60 (Data Science 60–65) Certificate: 25 Tacoma majors: 70 | Data Science option adds programming and machine learning |
| Western Washington University | B.A. in Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Science or Geography concentration B.A. in Environmental Studies (Extension), GIS emphasis Advanced GIS Certificate GIS Fundamentals Certificate | Campus (Bellingham) Extension: hybrid (Poulsbo and Port Angeles) | B.A. major: 82 minimum (Extension 85) Certificates: 21 / 11–13 | Extension degree-completion program for transfer students on the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas |
| Central Washington University | B.A. in Geography Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography, GIScience specialization B.S. in Geography, Environmental and Resource Geography specialization GIS Certificate | Campus (Ellensburg) | B.A. major: 65 B.S. major: 82–86 Certificate: 27 | GIS programming and remote sensing in the B.S. |
| Eastern Washington University | B.A. in Geosciences B.S. in Geosciences GIS Certificate (undergraduate or post-baccalaureate) | Degrees: campus (Cheney) Certificate: campus or fully online | B.A. major: 74–80 B.S. major: 90 Certificate: 30–32 | Certificate requires an internship or real-world GIS project |
| The Evergreen State College | GIS Academic Certificate | In person (Olympia) | 28 | Summer research project capstone |
| Seattle University | GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate (with a Seattle U bachelor’s degree) | In person (Seattle) | 15 | Open to any major; includes aerial imaging and mapping |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Residential (Seattle) | M.A.: 36 Ph.D.: 90 | GRE not required; teaching and research assistantships |
| Western Washington University | M.A. in Environmental Studies GIS Certificate (graduate, for enrolled WWU master’s students) | Face to face (Bellingham) | M.A.: 45 minimum Certificate: 18 | Thesis or field project; GIS I–IV courses available |
| Central Washington University | M.S. in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management | Campus (Ellensburg) | 60 | Thesis required; no specific GIS course |
| The Evergreen State College | GIS Academic Certificate (graduate) | In person, online, or hybrid | 12 | Three-course sequence over three quarters |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs and program pages. Washington’s public universities and community colleges use the quarter system, so credits are quarter credits. Minors are not listed.
Community and Technical College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon | Geographic Information Systems Certificate | 25 | Not stated |
| Green River College Auburn | Natural Resources–Geographic Information Systems, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Associate in Arts–DTA, Geography emphasis | 119 90 | Not stated |
| Bellevue College Bellevue | Geography: GIS track, Associate in Arts and Sciences–DTA | 90 | Not stated |
| Clark College Vancouver | Surveying Geomatics Technician–GIS, Certificate of Proficiency | 48 | Not stated |
| Olympic College Bremerton | GIS/Architectural/Civil Technician, Certificate of Completion | Not verified | Not stated |
| Spokane Community College Spokane | Water Science Geographic Information Systems Certificate (within the Water Science A.A.S.) | Not verified | Not stated; customized options for online and remote students |
No Washington community or technical college lists a Bachelor of Applied Science in GIS. Bellingham Technical College’s Engineering Technology–Geomatics A.A.S. includes GIS training but is a surveying degree. Several colleges also publish Geography Associate in Arts–DTA pathway maps for transfer students, including Edmonds, Highline, Olympic, Pierce, Spokane Falls, and Wenatchee Valley. These 90-credit transfer degrees are not GIS credentials, so those colleges are not counted above unless they also offer one.
Related Urban Planning Programs
Eastern Washington University’s 69-credit Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) requires a GIS course (GIS for Urban and Regional Analysis or GIS for Environmental Science). It is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board and ends in a research project and final examination. EWU’s B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning, which also requires GIS, is not accepting new students in 2026–27. UW’s Master of Urban Planning and UW Tacoma’s M.A. in Community Planning do not list a required GIS course, so they are not included. See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Washington
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
- Eastern Washington University GIS Certificate: EWU says the certificate “is offered both in-person and online” and that the online version requires no classroom visits. It can be taken with or after a bachelor’s degree.
- The Evergreen State College GIS Academic Certificate (graduate): the college says students can attend “fully in-person, fully online, or a mix of both.” Master of Environmental Studies and Master of Public Administration students register first; others with a bachelor’s degree can enroll as space allows with instructor approval.
- UW Professional & Continuing Education Certificate in GIS (non-credit): an eight-month evening program that can be taken entirely in an online synchronous (live) cohort. It awards a certificate of completion, not college credit.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- WWU Environmental Studies (Extension) B.A., GIS emphasis: evening classes in Poulsbo and Port Angeles use a hybrid format that combines classroom teaching, video conferencing, and weekend field labs.
- Spokane Community College Water Science GIS Certificate: the college says “customized options to accommodate online and remote students are available,” but does not say the full certificate can be completed online.
- UW Tacoma GIS Certificate: classes meet one evening a week in Tacoma. The school says it does not offer a fully online option.
- Central Washington University: the catalog says each geography and GIS program “does not have a designated online only option.”
No Washington school offers a geography or GIS bachelor’s or master’s degree that it describes as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Washington School Summaries
University of Washington
UW Seattle’s 60-credit B.A. in Geography has four tracks: Cities, Citizenship, and Migration; Environment, Economy, and Sustainability; Globalization, Health, and Development; and GIS, Mapping, and Society. Students take one course from each track and four upper-division courses in their chosen track. GIS track courses include Web-Based GIS, Urban GIS, GIS Databases and Programming, and Critical Remote Sensing. The B.A. in Geography: Data Science (60–65 credits) adds programming, machine learning, and 25 credits of GIS, Mapping, and Society courses. Both are minimum-requirements majors: students declare after a 200-level geography course with a 2.0 grade.
The 36-credit M.A. in Geography ends in a thesis or two research papers, and the 90-credit Ph.D. includes 27 dissertation credits and a general examination. The GRE has not been required since autumn 2020, and applications close around December 15. The department awards about 15 to 20 teaching assistantships a year, which waive tuition, and says all its graduate students have recently been funded.
At UW Tacoma, the School of Urban Studies offers a 25-credit GIS Certificate taken as a cohort over three quarters, with one evening class a week. It starts with Maps and GIS and ends with a GIS practicum. No prior GIS experience is needed, but admission is competitive. The same five courses form the GIS option in Tacoma’s B.A. in Urban Studies and B.A. in Sustainable Urban Development. UW Professional & Continuing Education also runs a non-credit Certificate in GIS, in person or online.
Sources: UW geography catalog; degree options; graduate admissions; UW Tacoma GIS certificate; UW PCE GIS certificate.
Western Washington University
WWU does not offer a stand-alone geography major. Its College of the Environment offers a B.A. in Environmental Studies (82 credits minimum) with Geographic Information Science and Geography concentrations of 20 credits each. The core includes Physical Geography, Human Geography, and Understanding Environmental Information, and the degree ends in an 8-credit culminating experience such as a senior thesis or internship. The GIS concentration requires GIS II: Cartography and Geovisualization and GIS III: Analysis and Modeling.
The 21-credit Advanced GIS Certificate is competitive, gives preference to environmental studies majors, and requires a B- or better in each course. The 11–13 credit GIS Fundamentals Certificate covers an introduction to GIS and environmental information. A B.A. in Environmental Studies (Extension) with a GIS emphasis is offered only in Poulsbo and Port Angeles as a two-year degree-completion program.
At the graduate level, the 45-credit M.A. in Environmental Studies ends in a thesis or field project and can include four levels of GIS and Advanced Spatial Analysis. The GRE is not required. WWU says over 85% of accepted applicants received at least a partial assistantship at the start of the program. The 18-credit graduate GIS certificate is open only to students in a WWU master’s program.
Sources: Environmental Studies B.A.; GIS concentration; Advanced GIS Certificate; Extension B.A.; Environmental Studies M.A.; GIS programs.
Central Washington University
CWU’s Department of Geography offers a 65-credit B.A. in Geography and a B.S. in Geography with two specializations. All three share a 25-credit core that includes Introduction to GIS and Maps and a geography capstone. The GIScience specialization (82–85 credits) adds GIS and Data Management, GIS Analysis, Quantitative Methods, GIS Programming, and Remote Sensing. The Environmental and Resource Geography specialization (83–86 credits) focuses on physical geography and field experience.
The 27-credit GIS Certificate requires a 2.7 GPA in certificate courses, with electives such as Applied GIS Project and Cooperative Education. At the graduate level, the 60-credit M.S. in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management requires a thesis but no specific GIS course. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA over their last 90 quarter credits. CWU says graduate assistantships are available in each graduate department.
Sources: Geography B.A.; B.S. GIScience; GIS Certificate; CERM M.S..
Eastern Washington University
EWU’s 2026–27 catalog has no degree named “Geography.” Geography is part of the B.A. in Geosciences, which covers human and physical geography and lets students specialize in GIS, water resources, or climate change. It requires GIS I: Spatial Analysis and Geostatistics, 45 elective credits, and a capstone or senior thesis. The 90-credit B.S. in Geosciences can be paired with the GIS certificate.
The 30–32 credit GIS Certificate requires four GIS courses, from spatial analysis through a practicum and portfolio, plus three electives such as remote sensing with drones or lidar and GIS programming. An internship or real-world GIS project is required, and each course needs a B- or better. EWU offers the certificate in person and online, and no prior GIS experience is required.
Sources: Geosciences B.A.; GIS certificate catalog; GIS certificate program page; MURP.
The Evergreen State College
Evergreen offers a 28-credit undergraduate GIS Academic Certificate of seven 4-credit courses, including Analysis with ArcGIS Pro, Remote Sensing, StoryMaps and Apps, and Field Data Collection. It ends with a summer research project and takes four to seven quarters, starting in fall. The 12-credit graduate GIS Academic Certificate runs from spring through winter: Introduction to GIS, Advanced GIS, and Special Topics in GIS.
Sources: undergraduate GIS certificate; graduate GIS certificate.
Seattle University
Seattle University’s 15-credit GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate can only be earned alongside a Seattle U bachelor’s degree, in any major. Its three courses are Introduction to GIS, Intermediate GIS, and Aerial Imaging and Mapping; engineering students may substitute Surveying and Geomatics. A 2.0 program GPA is required.
Sources: GIS certificate.
Community and Technical Colleges
Skagit Valley College offers a 25-credit GIS Certificate taken in sequence: two GIS courses, GPS, and remote sensing, ending with an advanced GIS project or cooperative education in summer. Students need a C or better in each course. Green River College‘s 119-credit Natural Resources–GIS A.A.S. trains students in GPS field data collection, GIS for natural resources, and cartography, with 14 credits of summer internships. Green River also lists a 90-credit Associate in Arts–DTA with a geography emphasis.
Bellevue College‘s 90-credit Geography: GIS track is a transfer degree for students heading to a geography bachelor’s with a GIS emphasis; its course map is from the 2025–26 catalog. Clark College‘s 48-credit Surveying Geomatics Technician–GIS certificate combines GIS, ArcGIS, and GPS courses with field surveying. Spokane Community College‘s Water Science GIS certificate is embedded in its 90-credit Water Science A.A.S. and includes a capstone with community partners. Olympic College lists a GIS/Architectural/Civil Technician certificate of completion within its Technical Design program, which combines drafting with GIS software and procedures; the college’s program page does not give its credit total.
Sources: Skagit Valley GIS certificate; Green River Natural Resources–GIS; Bellevue geography; Clark surveying–GIS; Spokane Water Science; Olympic Technical Design.
Schools not included
- Washington State University: no geography degree or GIS certificate in its current catalog. It offers a Geospatial Analysis minor through Crop and Soil Sciences.
- Not admitting: UW Seattle’s Master of Geographic Information Systems and UW Tacoma’s M.S. in Geospatial Technologies (admission suspended since 2023). EWU’s graduate GIS certificate, Geography minor, and GIS minor are not in the 2026–27 catalog.
- Minor only: UW Bothell (GIS minor) and the geography minors at UW Seattle, WWU, and CWU. WWU’s GIS minor is in moratorium.
- No geography or GIS credential: Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Gonzaga University (GIS course only), Whitworth University, Whitman College, Walla Walla University, Seattle Pacific University, Saint Martin’s University, and Heritage University.
- Community colleges: Everett Community College says its GIS courses are not currently offered. Olympic College’s separate GIS Technology certificates appear in the state’s CareerBridge directory but not on the college’s current program page. Cascadia College (Water Resource Management A.A.S.-T) and Big Bend Community College (agriculture and unmanned systems) teach GIS courses inside other programs. Seattle Central College’s continuing education GIS certificate is run by an outside bootcamp provider. Bellingham Technical College’s geomatics A.A.S. is a surveying degree.
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 and associate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (Seattle) B.A. in Geography | $12,664 per year (resident, full-time) $44,580 per year (nonresident) | Three quarters (annual rate) | $12,664 resident per year $44,580 nonresident per year | $966 per year (technology, services and activities, IMA, facilities renovation), plus $243 U-PASS |
| UW Tacoma GIS Certificate | Charged at the UW undergraduate rate by credits per quarter ($12,664 per year full-time, resident) | 25 credits over three quarters (6, 9, and 10 credits) | Not calculated; UW’s per-credit rate was not verified | Tacoma campus fees; $60 non-matriculated application fee |
| Western Washington University B.A. in Environmental Studies | $2,668 per quarter (resident, 10–18 credits) $8,971 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters | $8,004 resident per year $26,913 nonresident per year | $751.75 per quarter |
| Central Washington University B.A. or B.S. in Geography | $2,572.00 per quarter (resident, 10–18 credits) $9,013.70 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters | $7,716 resident per year $27,041.10 nonresident per year | $798.62 per quarter (Ellensburg) |
| Eastern Washington University B.A. in Geosciences | $2,679.18 per quarter (resident, 10–18 credits) $8,343.54 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters | $8,037.54 resident per year $25,030.62 nonresident per year | $397 per quarter |
| Eastern Washington University (online) GIS Certificate | $312.30 per credit (online GIS rate) | 30–32 credits | $9,369–$9,993.60 total | $30 per credit online delivery fee |
| The Evergreen State College GIS Academic Certificate (undergraduate) | $288.10 per credit (resident) $1,093.50 per credit (nonresident) | 28 credits, part-time (8 credits per quarter or less) | $8,066.80 resident total $30,618 nonresident total | $184 per quarter wellness fee, plus per-credit clean energy, building, and recreation fees |
| Seattle University Bachelor’s degree with GIS certificate | $19,800 per quarter (12–18 credits), same for all students | Three quarters | $59,400 per year | $452 per quarter (activity, technology, wellness) |
| Community and technical colleges Skagit Valley GIS Certificate | $136.14 per credit (resident, 1–10 credits) $350.12 per credit (nonresident) | 25 credits, never more than 10 per quarter | $3,403.50 resident total $8,753 nonresident total | College fees vary |
| Community and technical colleges Clark College Surveying Geomatics Technician–GIS | $136.14 per credit (resident) $350.12 per credit (nonresident) | 48 credits at the per-credit rate | $6,534.72 resident total $16,805.76 nonresident total | College fees vary |
| Community and technical colleges Associate degrees (Green River, Bellevue) | $1,697.30 per quarter at 15 credits (resident) $3,880.85 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters at 15 credits | $5,091.90 resident per year $11,642.55 nonresident per year | College fees vary |
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 Washington (Seattle) M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography | $18,045 per year (resident, Graduate Tier I) $32,346 per year (nonresident) | Three quarters (annual rate) | $18,045 resident per year $32,346 nonresident per year | $966 per year, plus $243 U-PASS. Teaching assistantships waive tuition. |
| Western Washington University M.A. in Environmental Studies | $4,195 per quarter (resident, 10–18 credits) $9,005 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters | $12,585 resident per year $27,015 nonresident per year | $751.75 per quarter |
| Central Washington University M.S. in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management | $3,924 per quarter (resident, 10–18 credits) $9,193 per quarter (nonresident) | Three quarters | $11,772 resident per year $27,579 nonresident per year | $798.62 per quarter (Ellensburg) |
| The Evergreen State College GIS Academic Certificate (graduate) | $454.90 per credit (resident, Master of Environmental Studies rate) $1,022.30 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $5,458.80 resident total $12,267.60 nonresident total | Same per-quarter fees as undergraduates |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Non-credit certificate
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UW Professional & Continuing Education Certificate in GIS | $7,495–$7,998 for the program | Six courses over eight months | $7,495–$7,998 total | Not stated |
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Washington’s public universities charge a flat quarterly rate for 10–18 credits, so part-time students pay by the credit instead.
- Community college tuition is banded: $136.14 per credit up to 10 credits, then about $67 for each added credit. A full-time student pays much less per credit than the certificate totals above suggest. The rates are the state’s maximums, and each college adds its own fees.
- EWU’s online GIS certificate uses a special per-credit rate with no separate nonresident rate listed. EWU publishes its resident annual rate as $8,037.55, one cent more than three quarters.
- Evergreen’s graduate rate for students who take the GIS certificate without being admitted to a master’s program is not published; the row uses the Master of Environmental Studies rate.
- Seattle University and UW Professional & Continuing Education charge the same price regardless of residency.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Washington
Broad geography or technical GIS
UW Seattle and CWU offer degrees named “Geography,” with GIS as one option among several. CWU’s B.S. GIScience specialization and WWU’s GIS concentration are the most technical bachelor’s routes. EWU and WWU place geography inside geosciences and environmental studies. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, associate, or bachelor’s
GIS certificates range from 11 credits at WWU to 32 credits at EWU, and community college credentials cost the least for residents. Transfer students can start with Bellevue’s GIS track or Green River’s geography emphasis, or finish a bachelor’s at WWU’s peninsula sites. Compare bachelor’s programs nationally.
Master’s or Ph.D.
UW is the only Washington school with a geography M.A. and Ph.D. WWU’s environmental studies M.A. and CWU’s resource management M.S. are thesis degrees that can include GIS work. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience. See master’s programs.
Online or campus
Every geography and GIS degree in Washington is campus-based. Working professionals who need an online option can take EWU’s GIS certificate, Evergreen’s graduate GIS certificate, or UW’s non-credit GIS certificate. See online geography schools for degrees based in other states.
Funding
- UW Geography: teaching and research assistantships waive tuition, and the department says all its graduate students have recently been funded.
- WWU Environmental Studies M.A.: over 85% of accepted applicants received at least a partial assistantship. The teaching assistantship deadline is February 1.
- CWU: graduate assistantships are available in each graduate department and require about 20 hours a week.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, 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, except Bellevue College, whose course map is from 2025–26. Tuition comes from each school’s or system’s 2026–27 tuition schedule.
- University of Washington: 2026–27 annual tuition and fees (PDF), graduate tiers (PDF)
- Western Washington University: 2026–27 tuition and fees
- Central Washington University: cost and aid
- Eastern Washington University: tuition rates, special program rates
- The Evergreen State College: tuition and fees
- Seattle University: undergraduate tuition and fees
- Community and technical colleges: State Board 2026–27 tuition summary (PDF)
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.