Best Geography Schools Near Decatur, IL (2026)

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

Decatur, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs, with tuition ranging from $4,415 to $34,309 per year for indexed programs. Decatur has a population of about 70,368. Median household income is $50,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning geography-related role is Geography Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $100,790 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Decatur

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer geography programs near Decatur, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Decatur 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 Decatur. 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

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL 41.1 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
90.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $81,054
Avg net price $14,355/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 177

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Illinois State University

Normal, IL 45.3 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
71.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 88%
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,117
Avg net price $19,398/yr
Tuition
In‑state$16,144
Out‑of‑state$28,210
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 112

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL 47.9 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,989
Avg net price $12,786/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL 101.8 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,163
Avg net price $12,937/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 83

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL 105.6 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,213
Avg net price $20,729/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL 141.9 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
62.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,971
Avg net price $22,736/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 68

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 143.9 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,808
Avg net price $13,391/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL 146.2 miles from Decatur
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,778
Avg net price $12,335/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 52%
  • Programs offered: 39

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Decatur

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide)
Geographers $92,640
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $54,680
Surveyors $75,980
Urban and Regional Planners $91,360
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $96,950
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $100,790
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $81,590
Computer Occupations, All Other $99,360

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.

Decatur at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 70,368 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $50,809 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 88.4 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Decatur-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Decatur, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Decatur. The closest is Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL (37.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Eastern Illinois University (47.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Illinois?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Illinois are: Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($100,790), Computer Occupations, All Other ($99,360), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($96,950). Wages for Decatur workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Springfield instead of Decatur?

Springfield, IL is 38.7 miles from Decatur 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 Decatur an affordable place to study geography?

Decatur’s median household income of $50,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Decatur while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Decatur

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

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 Illinois: Online Programs (2026)