Best Geography Schools Near Montrose, CO (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Montrose, Colorado has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs. Montrose has a population of about 20,703. Median household income is $63,177 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Colorado, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $139,580 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Montrose

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer geography programs near Montrose, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Montrose city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Montrose. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO 51.1 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,833
Avg net price $16,425/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO 56.4 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,823
Avg net price $15,103/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 90

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO 82.4 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
40.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,349
Avg net price $17,296/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 50

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO 167.6 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
48.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 97%
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,659
Avg net price $15,788/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,149
Out‑of‑state$24,336
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 67

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Red Rocks Community College

Lakewood, CO 169.0 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,288
Avg net price $9,044/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Arapahoe Community College

Littleton, CO 171.5 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
57.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,341
Avg net price $11,571/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 65

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

University of Denver

Denver, CO 176.4 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
70.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,155
Avg net price $36,131/yr
Tuition
In‑state$61,398
Out‑of‑state$61,398
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 116

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO 176.6 miles from Montrose
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,093
Avg net price $15,327/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 107

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado geography page.

Geography Wages Near Montrose

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Colorado, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $86,960
Surveyors $79,310
Urban and Regional Planners $101,340
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $114,410
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary N/A
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $85,990
Computer Occupations, All Other $139,580

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Montrose at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 20,703 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $63,177 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 33.6% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Montrose-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Montrose, CO?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs near Montrose. The closest is Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO (51.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Fort Lewis College (82.4 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Colorado?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Colorado are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($139,580), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($114,410), Urban and Regional Planners ($101,340). Wages for Montrose workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Grand Junction instead of Montrose?

Grand Junction, CO is 57.3 miles from Montrose and has its own set of local geography programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Montrose an affordable place to study geography?

Montrose’s median household income of $63,177 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Montrose while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Geography Programs

Other Programs Available in Montrose

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Montrose:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Geography Schools in Colorado: Online Programs (2026)