Best Geography Schools Near Paducah, KY (2026)

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

Paducah, Kentucky has 1 accredited school offering geography programs. Paducah has a population of about 26,894. Median household income is $51,243 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kentucky, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $89,420 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Paducah

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

Murray State University

Murray, KY 36.3 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,737
Avg net price $9,096/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 87

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY 120.8 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
52.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,889
Avg net price $10,990/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 152

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 176.5 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
59.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 79%
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,899
Avg net price $17,988/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,136
Out‑of‑state$29,482
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 133

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Louisville, KY 177.7 miles from Paducah
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
49.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,171
Avg net price $6,376/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,808
Out‑of‑state$6,512
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 236.3 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
70.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 93%
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,025
Avg net price $18,851/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,502
Out‑of‑state$34,140
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 217

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 242.8 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
52.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,795
Avg net price $11,040/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,320
Out‑of‑state$21,230
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 118

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Paducah

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Kentucky, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $71,470
Surveyors $71,840
Urban and Regional Planners $65,000
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $77,510
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $86,790
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $71,040
Computer Occupations, All Other $89,420

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.

Paducah at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 26,894 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $51,243 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 28.4% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 86.1 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Paducah-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Paducah, KY?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering geography programs near Paducah. The closest is Murray State University in Murray, KY (36.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Murray State University (36.3 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Kentucky?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Kentucky are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($89,420), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($86,790), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($77,510). Wages for Paducah workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Murray instead of Paducah?

Murray, KY is 36.2 miles from Paducah 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 Paducah an affordable place to study geography?

Paducah’s median household income of $51,243 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paducah while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky 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 Paducah

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

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 Kentucky: Online Programs (2026)