Best Geography Schools Near Muscatine, IA (2026)

Muscatine, Iowa has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs. Muscatine has a population of about 23,567. Median household income is $59,332 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $107,340 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Geography Schools to Muscatine

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

Iowa City, IA 29.5 miles from Muscatine
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,762
Avg net price $22,531/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 199

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 104.1 miles from Muscatine
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
68.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 93%
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,177
Avg net price $15,901/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,936
Out‑of‑state$21,712
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 116

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 139.5 miles from Muscatine
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
76.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,386
Avg net price $18,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 169

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Geography Wages Near Muscatine

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $84,570
Surveyors $77,090
Urban and Regional Planners $79,100
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $74,460
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary N/A
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $78,780
Computer Occupations, All Other $107,340

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.


Muscatine at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 23,567 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $59,332 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Muscatine-Area Cities With Geography Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Muscatine, IA?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs near Muscatine. The closest is Augustana College in Rock Island, IL (27.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Illinois University (68.7 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Iowa are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($107,340), Cartographers and Photogrammetrists ($84,570), Urban and Regional Planners ($79,100). Wages for Muscatine workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Rock Island instead of Muscatine?

Rock Island, IL is 25.4 miles from Muscatine 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 Muscatine an affordable place to study geography?

Muscatine’s median household income of $59,332 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Muscatine while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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 Muscatine

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

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.