Best Geography Schools Near Bluefield, WV (2026)

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

Bluefield, West Virginia has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs. Bluefield has a population of about 9,511. Median household income is $43,826 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In West Virginia, the top-earning geography-related role is Computer Occupations, All Other at a median $107,140 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Geography Schools to Bluefield

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

Marshall University

Huntington, WV 104.0 miles from Bluefield
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,354
Avg net price $7,502/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 100

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV 177.7 miles from Bluefield
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,939
Avg net price $15,634/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 168

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

West Liberty University

West Liberty, WV 203.4 miles from Bluefield
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,296
Avg net price $15,366/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Geography Wages Near Bluefield

Occupation Median Annual Wage (West Virginia, statewide)
Geographers N/A
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists N/A
Surveyors $61,520
Urban and Regional Planners $61,390
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $76,060
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary N/A
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $82,100
Computer Occupations, All Other $107,140

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.

Bluefield at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 9,511 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $43,826 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 24.7% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Bluefield-Area Cities With Geography Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited geography schools are near Bluefield, WV?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering geography programs near Bluefield. The closest is Radford University in Radford, VA (37.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is East Tennessee State University (91.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying geography roles in West Virginia?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying geography-related roles in West Virginia are: Computer Occupations, All Other ($107,140), Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health ($82,100), Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ($76,060). Wages for Bluefield workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Beckley instead of Bluefield?

Beckley, WV is 36.5 miles from Bluefield 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 Bluefield an affordable place to study geography?

Bluefield’s median household income of $43,826 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bluefield while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and West Virginia 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 Bluefield

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

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.

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