Best Geography Schools Near Columbia, TN (2026)

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

Columbia, Tennessee has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs. Columbia has a population of about 43,971. Median household income is $61,204 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area, the top-earning geography-related role is Urban and Regional Planners at a median $84,350 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Columbia

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer geography programs near Columbia, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbia 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 Columbia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

Sort:
#1

Roane State Community College

Harriman, TN 137.3 miles from Columbia
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
59.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,407
Avg net price $4,270/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 166.5 miles from Columbia
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,458
Avg net price $12,397/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 117

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#3

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN 176.5 miles from Columbia
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,249
Avg net price $18,976/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 143

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN 265.9 miles from Columbia
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,859
Avg net price $15,983/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 97

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad

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

Geography Wages Near Columbia

Columbia is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area (BLS area code 34980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Geographers N/A TN statewide –
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $72,990 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $75,794
Surveyors $78,870 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $81,900
Urban and Regional Planners $84,350 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $87,591
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $83,970 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $87,196
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary $81,220 TN statewide $84,341
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $77,800 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $80,789
Computer Occupations, All Other $81,310 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN $84,434

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.

Columbia at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 43,971 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $61,204 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 23.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 96.3 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Columbia-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Columbia, TN?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering geography programs near Columbia. The closest is University of North Alabama in Florence, AL (66.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Kentucky University (99.7 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Columbia?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Columbia are: Urban and Regional Planners ($84,350), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($83,970), Computer Occupations, All Other ($81,310). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Spring Hill instead of Columbia?

Spring Hill, TN is 11.3 miles from Columbia 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 Columbia an affordable place to study geography?

Columbia’s median household income of $61,204 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee 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 Columbia

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

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 Tennessee: Online Programs (2026)