Best Geography Schools Near Waterville, ME (2026)

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

Waterville, Maine has 4 accredited schools offering geography programs, with tuition ranging from $11,308 to $36,756 per year for indexed programs. Waterville has a population of about 16,704. Median household income is $47,489 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Maine, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $107,990 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Waterville

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

Farmington, ME 25.3 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
48.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 97%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,433
Avg net price $16,857/yr
Tuition
In‑state$11,308
Out‑of‑state$23,878
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Unity Environmental University

New Gloucester, ME 53.0 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,852
Avg net price $19,104/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 38%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

University of Maine

Orono, ME 54.6 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
53.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 97%
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,653
Avg net price $17,510/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,326
Out‑of‑state$36,756
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 137

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME 68.0 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,958
Avg net price $13,596/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 94

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Waterville

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Maine, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $78,670
Surveyors $83,200
Urban and Regional Planners $79,120
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $86,840
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary N/A
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $66,480
Computer Occupations, All Other $107,990

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.

Waterville at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 16,704 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $47,489 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 32.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Waterville-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Waterville, ME?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering geography programs near Waterville. The closest is University of Maine at Farmington in Farmington, ME (25.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Southern Maine (68.0 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Maine?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Maine are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($107,990), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($86,840), Surveyors ($83,200). Wages for Waterville workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Augusta instead of Waterville?

Augusta, ME is 14.9 miles from Waterville 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 Waterville an affordable place to study geography?

Waterville’s median household income of $47,489 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waterville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maine 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 Waterville

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

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 Maine: Online Programs (2026)