Best Geography Schools Near Kankakee, IL (2026)

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

Kankakee, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs. Kankakee has a population of about 24,384. Median household income is $45,119 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 12.5% 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 Kankakee

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

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL 3.7 miles from Kankakee
  • 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

#2

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL 44.6 miles from Kankakee
  • 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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#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL 49.3 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
93.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $91,885
Avg net price $14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 99%
  • Programs offered: 105

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

DePaul University

Chicago, IL 55.0 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
66.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $68,751
Avg net price $30,902/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 166

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL 55.1 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,462
Avg net price $24,185/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL 61.2 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
35.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,234
Avg net price $14,109/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL 63.0 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
66.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,530
Avg net price $36,079/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 168

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL 66.2 miles from Kankakee
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
81.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $89,363
Avg net price $29,167/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 98%
  • Programs offered: 167

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 Kankakee

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.

Kankakee at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 24,384 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $45,119 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 12.5% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 96.4 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Kankakee-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Kankakee, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Kankakee. The closest is Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL (3.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is College of DuPage (52.2 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 Kankakee workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Braidwood instead of Kankakee?

Braidwood, IL is 22.0 miles from Kankakee 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 Kankakee an affordable place to study geography?

Kankakee’s median household income of $45,119 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kankakee 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 Kankakee

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

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)