Best Geography Schools Near Monessen, PA (2026)

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

Monessen, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs. Monessen has a population of about 6,825. Median household income is $51,094 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $103,420 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Monessen

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

Pennsylvania Western University

California, PA 6.0 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,295
Avg net price $18,256/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 130

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA 20.5 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,125
Avg net price $30,434/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 239

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA 49.8 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
52.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,019
Avg net price $16,804/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Johnstown, PA 55.9 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
48.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,125
Avg net price $18,202/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA 63.5 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,032
Avg net price $19,608/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA 115.1 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 61%
Graduation rate 86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $32,875/yr
Tuition
In‑state$20,644
Out‑of‑state$41,790
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 214

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA 115.1 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $19,550/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 117

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, PA 124.9 miles from Monessen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,351
Avg net price $23,726/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Monessen

Monessen is part of the Pittsburgh, PA metro area (BLS area code 38300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A PA statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $73,180 PA statewide $77,276
Surveyors $77,080 Pittsburgh, PA $81,394
Urban and Regional Planners $79,690 Pittsburgh, PA $84,150
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $76,410 Pittsburgh, PA $80,686
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $97,120 PA statewide $102,555
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $65,360 Pittsburgh, PA $69,018
Computer Occupations, All Other $103,420 Pittsburgh, PA $109,208

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.

Monessen at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 6,825 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $51,094 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 25.0% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 94.7 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Monessen-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Monessen, PA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Monessen. The closest is Pennsylvania Western University in California, PA (6.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus (49.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Monessen?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Monessen are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($103,420), Geography Teachers, Postsecondary ($97,120), Urban and Regional Planners ($79,690). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Bethel Park instead of Monessen?

Bethel Park, PA is 14.4 miles from Monessen 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 Monessen an affordable place to study geography?

Monessen’s median household income of $51,094 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Monessen while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Monessen

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

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 Pennsylvania: Online Programs (2026)