Best Online Geographic Information Systems Degrees for 2025

Geographic information systems is one of the fastest growing technology certificates out there. Not only does it not take long to earn, but you will be prepared to step right into a job once you do earn your certificate. The only downside is that most of the certificates in this field are postbaccalaureate, which means that you must complete a bachelor’s degree before you can obtain this certification. However, once you have that degree, it will only take around 12 months or less to complete the whole degree program. And, if you wish to continue on in the field, a master’s-level program takes around two years to complete, though there are degree options that will accept the postbaccalaureate certificate as the first year of the Master of GIS program.

While it might seem simple from the user standpoint (after all, GIS is just a collection of data, right?) many actually find that GIS is much more difficult than they expected when they get into the program. This is, of course, dependent on your skill set, but it’s not an easy discipline. The reason for this is partially because the results are completely different from what creates them. What appears as maps or graphs on the user side is created through the complex use of a huge array of processes; processes which are still being added to through new functions such as remote sensing and others.

The college that the student attends is in an ideal position to help with job searches, interviews, networking, and outreach. Students should place priority on post-graduate job placement assistance when choosing a program for Geographic Information Services.

GIS has grown dramatically in recent years as technology, and societal changes expand the needs for gathering and processing geodata. Drone technology, advances in Photogrammetry, and pressures from climate change drive new use cases for geographic information. Rather than an established traditional job market, in the field of GIS, there are a number of new and emerging economic sectors. Students and recent grads can benefit from professional career counseling and an extensive job internship and placement effort.

Some schools operate extensive job placement programs and offer career counseling to seniors and recent graduates. These activities can provide a critical asset for finding a first job or some essential direction for the early stages of a GIS career. The school also has a vibrant community of business partners, alumni, local and regional connections, and corporate sponsors. Students can utilize these assets by participating in the school, college, or university community.

Internships and collaborations are other important forms of placement assistance. Practical experience can set an applicant apart from the competition in the GIS field.

A ranking, like accreditation, affects the value of a degree. The ranking factors include the reputation of the school and the GIS program. Rankings reflect the experience and expertise of the faculty. GIS is a field that expands as new technology and innovations emerge. Faculty involvement in these dynamic patterns is a benefit for education and recommends graduates to employers. Students that decide to attend school online can look at rankings of online schools that can provide guidance about the resources most important to online attendance.

Rankings reflect factors of high interest to employers and educational institutions. They include indicators of educational quality like graduation rates, the quality and experience of the faculty, and educational resources such as libraries and research laboratories. Rankings do more than list schools in some order of preference; rankings can compare schools by critical factors for the field of geographic information systems such as related technological studies and research grants and agreements that offer opportunities to participate in current research.

Finally, employers may use rankings when considering applicants, hires, and salaries. Some rankings feature things that employers value such as the success rate of graduates, student satisfaction, and signs of academic success such as Ph.Ds and prestigious awards. Employers understand that the quality of their organizations flows, at least in part, from the educational quality of the executives, staff, and employees.