Best Geography Schools Near Bismarck, ND (2026)

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

Bismarck, North Dakota is home to about 74,146 residents. Median household income is $77,608 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Bismarck, ND metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health at a median $87,350 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Bismarck

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

Grand Forks, ND 189.2 miles from Bismarck
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,552
Avg net price $18,551/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 137

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Bismarck

Bismarck is part of the Bismarck, ND metro area (BLS area code 13900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Dakota statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A ND statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $71,070 ND statewide $78,099
Surveyors $79,620 Bismarck, ND $87,495
Urban and Regional Planners $79,920 Bismarck, ND $87,824
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $84,070 ND statewide $92,385
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary N/A ND statewide –
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $87,350 Bismarck, ND $95,989
Computer Occupations, All Other $86,840 Bismarck, ND $95,429

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.

Bismarck at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 74,146 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $77,608 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 38.7% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 91.0 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Bismarck-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Bismarck?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Bismarck are: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health ($87,350), Computer Occupations, All Other ($86,840), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($84,070). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Dakota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Mandan instead of Bismarck?

Mandan, ND is 5.5 miles from Bismarck 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 Bismarck an affordable place to study geography?

Bismarck’s median household income of $77,608 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bismarck while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Dakota 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 Bismarck

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

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 North Dakota: Online Programs (2026)