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• Step 1: Choose field
• Step 2: Set priorities
• Step 3: Your ranking of Geography programs

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• Funding / Scholarships
• Other rankings
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The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.

How to Read Your Ranking

• Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
• Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
• Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
• A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
• Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
• Data sources can be found below.

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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Geography, University of California-Santa Barbara	40.2	6.5	86%	4.0	6.0	17.9	4.2	7.4	20	4.0	53%	600	580
2.	Geography, University of California-Los Angeles	31.1	6.5	70%	3.5	4.0	12.3	4.0	5.4	20	2.2	23%	665	630
3.	Geography, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	29.0	5.7	68%	4.2	2.5	4.0	4.6	6.2	21	1.8	58%	610	580
4.	Geographic Information Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	27.1	6.8†	92%†	4.0	2.0	4.1	4.2	5.4†	25	2.9	70%†	630†	600†
4.	Geography, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	27.1	6.8†	92%†	4.0	2.0	4.1	4.2	5.4†	25	2.9	70%†	630†	600†
6.	Geography, Ohio State University-Main Campus	25.3	5.9	90%	4.0	3.5	12.1	4.1	3.8	20	2.3	73%	580	560
7.	Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder	22.7	5.9	64%	3.6	4.5	12.5	3.6	10.0	17	3.6	88%	600	580
8.	Geography, SUNY at Buffalo	21.8	6.0	79%	3.5	3.0	4.9	3.6	8.8	17	1.8	56%	595	565
9.	Geography, Clark University	20.0	7.1	77%	3.6	3.5	13.3	3.8	8.2	16	3.8	62%	595	610
10.	Geography, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	17.4	5.8	54%	3.6	5.0	14.4	3.7	6.6	14	2.6	67%	610	590
11.	Geography, University of California-Berkeley	14.2	7.2	62%	3.7	1.4	7.6	4.0	6.8	14	3.6	25%	685	645
12.	Geography, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	14.0	5.6	89%	3.2	5.2	11.7	3.4	5.4	15	2.4	91%	560	550
13.	Geography, Syracuse University	12.8	5.9	100%	3.8	1.6	2.8	4.0	1.2	18	2.1	65%	620	595
14.	Geography, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	12.6	7.1	67%	3.2	3.6	5.2	3.4	4.0	25	0.9	61%	615	580
15.	Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	12.4	5.7	87%	3.2	4.3	6.4	3.3	2.6	17	2.9	68%	675	615
16.	Geography, University of Georgia	9.9	6.7	76%	3.1	4.9	7.1	3.0	6.2	13	1.5	62%	615	610
17.	Geography, Boston University	9.1	6.5	69%	2.7	1.6	7.8	2.7	7.0	17	0.9	55%	655	645
18.	Geography and Cartography/GIS, University of Wisconsin-Madison	9.0	8.2	50%	4.1	1.9	3.1	4.4	4.8	22	2.3	71%	650	615
19.	Geography and Regional Development, University of Arizona	8.4	5.9	82%	3.0	1.7	3.4	3.2	5.2	23	0.7	88%	565	560
20.	Geography, University of Iowa	7.3	5.9	73%	3.3	5.9	15.7	3.2	2.8	14	3.0	84%	600	585
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Geography, Kansas State University	7.0	4.9	89%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.0	16*	2.1*	48%	597*	577*
22.	Geography, Texas State University-San Marcos	6.9	4.2	100%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	3.2	16*	2.1*	76%	535	525
23.	Geography, University of South Carolina-Columbia	6.8	4.2	76%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	3.8	16*	2.1*	67%	580	570
24.	Geography, University of Southern California	5.7	7.7	80%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.4	16*	2.1*	27%	690	665
25.	Geography, Texas A & M University	3.1	5.7	81%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	3.2	16*	2.1*	70%	615	585
26.	Geography, The University of Texas at Austin	2.9	7.7	67%	2.9	2.2	3.5	3.4	3.6	22	0.9	51%	630	605
27.	Geography, University of California-Davis	1.5	5.7	67%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	4.0	16*	2.1*	55%	615	565
28.	Geography, University of Florida	1.3	5.0	54%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.8	16*	2.1*	57%	640	620
29.	Geography, Michigan State University	1.1	4.7†	80%†	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.4†	16*	2.1*	76%†	585†	555†
30.	Geography, Southern Illinois University Carbondale	-1.0	4.9	100%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	1.4	16*	2.1*	77%	520	520
31.	Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	-2.3	6.2	45%	2.9	3.0	12.3	2.9	3.8	12	2.2	36%	650	640
32.	Geography, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-4.2	5.8	58%	3.1	1.4	2.6	3.2	6.2	17	2.9	78%	600	575
33.	Geography, University of Connecticut	-4.5	6.1*	73%*	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	1.0	16*	2.1*	51%	600	585
34.	Geography, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-6.0	5.6	70%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	1.8	16*	2.1*	86%	597*	577*
35.	Geography, Indiana State University	-6.3	4.5	83%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.6	16*	2.1*	80%	470	475
35.	Geography, San Diego State University	-6.3	5.9	70%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.2	16*	2.1*	47%	550	530
37.	Geography, University of Maryland-College Park	-6.9	5.2†	60%†	2.4	2.1	4.1	2.4	2.6†	16	1.3	49%†	650†	625†
37.	Geography-Political Geography, University of Maryland-College Park	-6.9	5.2†	60%†	2.4	2.1	4.1	2.4	2.6†	16	1.3	49%†	650†	625†
37.	Joint Geography/Library & Information Se, University of Maryland-College Park	-6.9	5.2†	60%†	2.4	2.1	4.1	2.4	2.6†	16	1.3	49%†	650†	625†
40.	Geography, Florida State University	-7.1	6.9	75%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.0	16*	2.1*	62%	585	575
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Geography - GEOG, University of Kentucky	-8.8	6.7	78%	3.1	2.1	2.5	3.1	4.4	12	1.3	79%	575	565
42.	Geography, University of Denver	-9.5	6.1*	73%*	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	0.8	16*	2.1*	82%	585	580
43.	Geography, The University of Tennessee	-9.6	7.9	77%	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	2.4	16*	2.1*	44%	555	555
44.	Geography, West Virginia University	-11.0	5.2	73%*	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	1.0	16*	2.1*	89%	545	525
45.	Geography, University of Idaho	-11.8	6.1*	73%*	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	1.2	16*	2.1*	83%	550	550
46.	Geography, University of California-Riverside	-13.0	6.1*	73%*	3.1*	2.7*	6.4*	3.2*	0.8	16*	2.1*	74%	565	510
47.	Geography, Indiana University-Bloomington	-14.5	5.8	88%	2.9	1.8	1.5	2.8	2.2	12	1.3	85%	560	550
48.	Geography, University of Oregon	-20.6	6.9	67%	2.6	1.5	10.1	2.6	4.2	11	1.5	91%	560	555
49.	Geography, University of Kansas Main Campus	-22.3	6.1	48%	2.9	0.9	1.0	2.7	4.6	12	2.5	69%	597*	577*
50.	Geography, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	-23.6	4.9	69%	2.3	1.1	2.3	2.3	3.4	9	2.9	75%	605	595
51.	Geography, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-31.2	7.5	53%	2.6	2.3	2.2	2.4	3.6	13	2.7	65%	570	535
52.	Geography, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	-31.8	6.1*	73%*	2.2	0.5	0.3	2.4	1.2	12	1.7	89%	597*	577*
53.	Geography, Oregon State University	-31.9	9.2	90%	2.3	2.1	10.0	2.0	3.0	11	1.5	90%	550	530
54.	Geography, University of Utah	-34.3	6.1*	73%*	1.8	1.7	2.4	2.0	2.0	10	2.1	86%	597*	577*
55.	Geography, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-34.7	5.2	78%	2.1	1.7	1.1	2.0	2.0	10	1.7	94%	515	515
56.	Geography, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-44.7	6.2	59%	1.4	1.7	2.1	1.4	4.6	7	2.1	77%	565	545

Unranked Geography Graduate Schools

Item Descriptions

Your Score

Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.

Years to Degree (Yrs)

Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -4. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Placement Rate (Job)

Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 4. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)

Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Publications per Faculty Member (Pub / Fac)

The ratio of the number of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 3. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)

The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 3. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)

Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Math SAT Score (SAT-M)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Missing Values

Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.  Learn more

National Research Council

The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more

Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science Foundation.  Learn more