Best Geography Schools Near Winchester, KY (2026)

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

Winchester, Kentucky has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs, with tuition ranging from $4,808 to $34,391 per year for indexed programs. Winchester has a population of about 19,133. Median household income is $57,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kentucky, the top-earning geography-related role is Geography Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $86,790 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Winchester

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

Lexington, KY 17.3 miles from Winchester
  • 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

#2

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 19.0 miles from Winchester
  • 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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#3

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Louisville, KY 86.6 miles from Winchester
  • 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

#4

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 86.6 miles from Winchester
  • 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

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#5

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY 142.7 miles from Winchester
  • 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

#6

Murray State University

Murray, KY 246.5 miles from Winchester
  • 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

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

Geography Wages Near Winchester

Winchester is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area (BLS area code 30460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kentucky statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A KY statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $71,470 KY statewide $76,932
Surveyors $78,690 Lexington-Fayette, KY $84,704
Urban and Regional Planners $81,020 Lexington-Fayette, KY $87,212
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $67,700 Lexington-Fayette, KY $72,874
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $86,790 KY statewide $93,423
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $73,980 Lexington-Fayette, KY $79,634
Computer Occupations, All Other $79,610 Lexington-Fayette, KY $85,694

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.

Winchester at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 19,133 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $57,653 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.0% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 92.9 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Winchester-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Winchester, KY?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Winchester. The closest is University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY (17.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Louisville (86.6 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Winchester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Winchester are: Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($86,790), Urban and Regional Planners ($81,020), Computer Occupations, All Other ($79,610). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kentucky statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lexington instead of Winchester?

Lexington, KY is 14.9 miles from Winchester 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 Winchester an affordable place to study geography?

Winchester’s median household income of $57,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Winchester 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 Winchester

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

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)