Best Geography Schools Near Rolla, MO (2026)

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

Rolla, Missouri has 4 accredited schools offering geography programs. Rolla has a population of about 20,144. Median household income is $42,518 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning geography-related role is Geographers at a median $102,040 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Rolla

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

Columbia, MO 75.6 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
75.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,403
Avg net price $20,268/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 156

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO 92.4 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
85.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $86,182
Avg net price $21,786/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 167

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO 95.5 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $70,783
Avg net price $24,398/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 97.9 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,827
Avg net price $17,613/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 200

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 170.1 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,637
Avg net price $13,310/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 103

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Park University

Parkville, MO 179.5 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
41.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,309
Avg net price $21,032/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 58%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO 235.8 miles from Rolla
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,885
Avg net price $16,244/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Rolla

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Missouri, statewide)
Geographers $102,040
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $76,950
Surveyors $62,110
Urban and Regional Planners $80,720
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $83,390
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $83,530
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $61,050
Computer Occupations, All Other $101,040

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.

Rolla at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 20,144 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $42,518 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 35.5% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Rolla-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Rolla, MO?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering geography programs near Rolla. The closest is University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO (75.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Missouri State University-Springfield (97.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in Missouri?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in Missouri are: Geographers ($102,040), Computer Occupations, All Other ($101,040), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($83,530). Wages for Rolla workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Jefferson City instead of Rolla?

Jefferson City, MO is 48.5 miles from Rolla 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 Rolla an affordable place to study geography?

Rolla’s median household income of $42,518 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rolla while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Rolla

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

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 Missouri: Online Programs (2026)