Best Geography Schools Near Kentwood, MI (2026)

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

Kentwood, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs, with tuition ranging from $39,350 to $54,222 per year for indexed programs. Kentwood has a population of about 54,114. Median household income is $73,647 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $100,220 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Kentwood

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

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI 3.1 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
71.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,375
Avg net price $22,992/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,350
Out‑of‑state$39,350
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 89

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI 5.5 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
46.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,584
Avg net price $16,626/yr
Tuition
In‑state$40,218
Out‑of‑state$40,218
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI 16.0 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,118
Avg net price $16,317/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 137

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI 41.7 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,562
Avg net price $15,273/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 188

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 57.6 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
80.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $67,253
Avg net price $19,680/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 230

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI 63.8 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
60.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,874
Avg net price $17,597/yr
Tuition
In‑state$14,760
Out‑of‑state$14,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 183

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI 92.7 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,955
Avg net price $10,775/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Michigan-Flint

Flint, MI 96.6 miles from Kentwood
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,230
Avg net price $7,007/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 80

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Kentwood

Kentwood is part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area (BLS area code 24340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A MI statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $75,090 MI statewide $78,628
Surveyors $76,130 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $79,717
Urban and Regional Planners $80,140 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $83,916
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $80,990 MI statewide $84,806
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $81,380 MI statewide $85,215
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $79,060 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $82,785
Computer Occupations, All Other $100,220 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $104,942

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.

Kentwood at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 54,114 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $73,647 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 35.1% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 95.5 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Kentwood-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Kentwood, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Kentwood. The closest is Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI (3.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Lansing Community College (53.7 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Kentwood?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Kentwood are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($100,220), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($81,380), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($80,990). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Wyoming instead of Kentwood?

Wyoming, MI is 5.8 miles from Kentwood 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 Kentwood an affordable place to study geography?

Kentwood’s median household income of $73,647 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kentwood while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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 Kentwood

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

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 Michigan: Online Programs (2026)