Best Geography Schools Near Austin, MN (2026)

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

Austin, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs, with tuition ranging from $56,076 to $67,613 per year for indexed programs. Austin has a population of about 26,167. Median household income is $66,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning geography-related role is Cartographers and Photogrammetrists at a median $99,850 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Austin

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

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 60.7 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,922
Avg net price $19,139/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN 67.0 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
64.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 61%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $65,607
Avg net price $22,900/yr
Tuition
In‑state$56,076
Out‑of‑state$56,076
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN 68.7 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
71.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,170
Avg net price $11,704/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 70

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 88.5 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,739
Avg net price $29,155/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN 90.8 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
83.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 83%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $69,020
Avg net price $16,778/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 250

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN 142.3 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,813
Avg net price $13,529/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 123

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Cloquet, MN 210.1 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 37%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,665
Avg net price $12,677/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 44%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN 221.6 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,616
Avg net price $18,743/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 94

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Austin

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $99,850
Surveyors $83,620
Urban and Regional Planners $97,060
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $80,540
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $95,890
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $88,000
Computer Occupations, All Other $91,750

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.

Austin at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 26,167 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $66,488 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 23.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Austin-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Austin, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Austin. The closest is Minnesota State University-Mankato in Mankato, MN (60.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Wisconsin-River Falls (83.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Minnesota are: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists ($99,850), Urban and Regional Planners ($97,060), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($95,890). Wages for Austin workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Owatonna instead of Austin?

Owatonna, MN is 31.7 miles from Austin 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 Austin an affordable place to study geography?

Austin’s median household income of $66,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Austin while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Austin

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

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 Minnesota: Online Programs (2026)