Best Geography Schools Near Murfreesboro, TN (2026)

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

Murfreesboro, Tennessee has 1 accredited school offering geography programs. Murfreesboro has a population of about 157,547. Median household income is $76,241 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.1% 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 Murfreesboro

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

Roane State Community College

Harriman, TN 100.2 miles from Murfreesboro
  • 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

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN 139.2 miles from Murfreesboro
  • 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

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#3

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 204.9 miles from Murfreesboro
  • 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

#4

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN 227.9 miles from Murfreesboro
  • 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

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

Geography Wages Near Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro 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.

Murfreesboro at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 157,547 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $76,241 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 41.1% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 96.3 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Murfreesboro-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Murfreesboro, TN?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering geography programs near Murfreesboro. The closest is Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY (78.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Kentucky University (78.4 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles near Murfreesboro?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles near Murfreesboro 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 Smyrna instead of Murfreesboro?

Smyrna, TN is 10.6 miles from Murfreesboro 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 Murfreesboro an affordable place to study geography?

Murfreesboro’s median household income of $76,241 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Murfreesboro 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 Murfreesboro

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

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)