Vernon Hills, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs. Vernon Hills has a population of about 26,772. Median household income is $120,625 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 66.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers at a median $114,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Geography Schools to Vernon Hills
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer geography programs near Vernon Hills, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Vernon Hills 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Vernon Hills.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$89,363
Avg net price
$29,167/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 167
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,234
Avg net price
$14,109/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 57%
- Programs offered: 56
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$71,530
Avg net price
$36,079/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 168
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$61,462
Avg net price
$24,185/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 78%
- Programs offered: 74
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,751
Avg net price
$30,902/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 86%
- Programs offered: 166
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$91,885
Avg net price
$14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 99%
- Programs offered: 105
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,778
Avg net price
$12,335/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 52%
- Programs offered: 39
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,808
Avg net price
$13,391/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 70%
- Programs offered: 92
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois geography page.
Geography Wages Near Vernon Hills
Vernon Hills is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Geographers |
$92,640 |
IL statewide |
$89,421 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists |
$54,680 |
IL statewide |
$52,780 |
| Surveyors |
$80,060 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$77,278 |
| Urban and Regional Planners |
$98,840 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$95,405 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers |
$114,030 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$110,068 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary |
$103,280 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$99,691 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health |
$85,310 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$82,346 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other |
$101,660 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$98,127 |
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.
Vernon Hills at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
26,772 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$120,625 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
66.6% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
103.6 (above U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Vernon Hills-Area Cities With Geography Programs
- Mundelein, IL – 3.5 mi away (31,475 pop)
- Libertyville, IL – 3.7 mi away (20,405 pop)
- Buffalo Grove, IL – 4.6 mi away (41,346 pop)
- Wheeling, IL – 7.4 mi away (38,315 pop)
- North Chicago, IL – 7.7 mi away (29,951 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited geography schools are near Vernon Hills, IL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Vernon Hills. The closest is William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL (12.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Elmhurst University (23.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying geography roles near Vernon Hills?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Vernon Hills are: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($114,030), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($103,280), Computer Occupations, All Other ($101,660). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Mundelein instead of Vernon Hills?
Mundelein, IL is 3.5 miles from Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills an affordable place to study geography?
Vernon Hills’s median household income of $120,625 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Vernon Hills:
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- Political Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Philosophy programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Mathematics programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- General Studies programs in Vernon Hills, IL
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- Electrical Engineering programs in Vernon Hills, IL
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- Public Policy programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- International Relations programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Chemistry programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Physics programs in Vernon Hills, IL
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- Film programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Fashion programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Architecture programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Urban Planning programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Industrial Design programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Game Design programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Instructional Design programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Higher Education Administration programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Global Health programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Art History programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Creative Writing programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Environmental Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Nutrition programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Theology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Library Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Medical Assistant programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Health Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Entrepreneurship programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Interior Design programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Photography programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Sustainability Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Journalism programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Public Relations programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Communication Disorders programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Speech Pathology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Technical Communication programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Professional Writing programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Strategic Communications programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Business Development programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Construction Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Economics programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Financial Technology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Forensic Accounting programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Health Information Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Hospitality Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- International Business programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Organizational Leadership programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Management Information Systems programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Nonprofit Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Operations Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Public Administration programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Real Estate programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Recreation Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Retail Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Risk Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Statistics programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Taxation programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Corrections programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Crime Analysis programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Criminology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Cybercrime programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Emergency Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Fire Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Forensic Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Legal Services programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Legal Studies programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Paralegal programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Security Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Cloud Computing programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Computer Engineering programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Innovation programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Mobile App Development programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Software Development programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- User Experience programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Web Development programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Machine Learning programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Supply Chain Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Data Analytics programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Public Health programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Human Resources programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Project Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Special Education programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Homeland Security programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Marketing programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Finance programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Kinesiology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Sports Management programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Early Childhood Education programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Elementary Education programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Biology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Communications programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Graphic Design programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Human Services programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- MBA programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Criminal Justice programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Nursing programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Business Administration programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Computer Science programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Psychology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Education programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Engineering programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Technology programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Liberal Arts programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Healthcare programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Cybersecurity programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Accounting programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Healthcare Administration programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Social Work programs in Vernon Hills, IL
- Counseling programs in Vernon Hills, IL
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.
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