Best Geography Schools Near Lancaster, OH (2026)

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

Lancaster, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs. Lancaster has a population of about 40,902. Median household income is $54,901 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Columbus, OH metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $129,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Lancaster

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

Columbus State Community College

Columbus, OH 26.4 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,435
Avg net price $8,400/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH 28.6 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
80.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,409
Avg net price $17,339/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Programs offered: 233

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH 38.4 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,581
Avg net price $21,637/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 217

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Ohio Wesleyan University

Delaware, OH 46.5 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
53.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,624
Avg net price $20,897/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 67

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, OH 77.6 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,500
Avg net price $15,415/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 117

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Sinclair Community College

Dayton, OH 84.8 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,558
Avg net price $5,992/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 160

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

University of Akron Main Campus

Akron, OH 109.7 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
48.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 60%
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,600
Avg net price $13,946/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,135
Out‑of‑state$20,815
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 159

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH 109.8 miles from Lancaster
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,810
Avg net price $25,648/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 248

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Lancaster

Lancaster is part of the Columbus, OH metro area (BLS area code 18140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Ohio statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A OH statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $79,560 Columbus, OH $83,309
Surveyors $77,320 Columbus, OH $80,963
Urban and Regional Planners $78,750 Columbus, OH $82,461
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $84,140 Columbus, OH $88,105
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $81,290 OH statewide $85,120
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $82,350 Columbus, OH $86,230
Computer Occupations, All Other $129,940 Columbus, OH $136,063

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.

Lancaster at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 40,902 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $54,901 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 95.5 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Lancaster-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Lancaster, OH?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Lancaster. The closest is Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH (26.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Wright State University-Main Campus (77.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Lancaster?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Lancaster are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($129,940), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($84,140), Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health ($82,350). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Ohio statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Pickerington instead of Lancaster?

Pickerington, OH is 14.3 miles from Lancaster 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 Lancaster an affordable place to study geography?

Lancaster’s median household income of $54,901 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lancaster while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Lancaster

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

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 Ohio: Online Programs (2026)