The Graduate School at Penn State
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
World Campus
Earth and Mineral Sciences
Geographic Information Systems – Admissions Data
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 126 | 137 | 90 | 132 | 116 | 115 | 104 | 85 | 103 | 100 |
| Offers (% selectivity) | 70 (56%) | 52 (38%) | 58 (64%) | 98 (74%) | 91 (78%) | 92 (80%) | 89 (86%) | 72 (85%) | 65 (63%) | 66 (66%) |
| Accepts (% yield) | 69 (99%) | 52 (100%) | 56 (97%) | 89 (91%) | 87 (96%) | 81 (88%) | 82 (92%) | 69 (96%) | 54 (83%) | 57 (86%) |
Geographic Information Systems – Average GRE Scores for New Enrollees*
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical (P) † | - | - | c | - | c | - | - | - | - | - |
| Verbal (P) † | 154.40
(64%)
n=5 |
157.09
(71%)
n=11 |
156.67
(72%)
n=18 |
154.38
(64%)
n=21 |
155.89
(69%)
n=9 |
151.13
(51%)
n=8 |
159.43
(81%)
n=7 |
158.00
(75%)
n=8 |
- | 155.43
(65%)
n=7 |
| Quantitative (P) † | 154.40
(57%)
n=5 |
154.09
(57%)
n=11 |
152.83
(51%)
n=18 |
151.43
(43%)
n=21 |
152.44
(50%)
n=9 |
142.88
(18%)
n=8 |
158.00
(64%)
n=7 |
153.75
(50%)
n=8 |
- | 151.29
(42%)
n=7 |
| Analyt Writing (P) † | 4.40
(70%)
n=5 |
4.32
(64%)
n=11 |
3.85
(55%)
n=17 |
4.00
(58%)
n=21 |
3.94
(55%)
n=8 |
3.06
(24%)
n=8 |
4.07
(57%)
n=7 |
4.25
(66%)
n=8 |
- | 3.93
(53%)
n=7 |
*GRE tests taken on or after August 1st, 2011 are scored according the following scale:
Verbal Reasoning: 130 - 170, 1 point increments
Quantitative Reasoning: 130 - 170, 1 point increments
Analytical Writing: 0 - 6, half point increments
For tests taken prior to August 1st, 2011, scores were converted to the new scale accordingly.
†P = Percentile Ranking
c = data not displayed because n is too small to protect confidentiality of the student data
"-" indicates n=0
Geographic Information Systems – Jr/Sr GPA for New Enrollees
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA | 3.49
n=25 |
3.24
n=45 |
3.33
n=52 |
3.30
n=83 |
3.31
n=84 |
3.22
n=79 |
3.24
n=80 |
3.37
n=67 |
3.30
n=51 |
3.26
n=159 |
Geographic Information Systems – Demographics for New Enrollees
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total New Enrl | 27 | 47 | 54 | 83 | 84 | 79 | 80 | 67 | 51 | 159 |
| Domestic | 27 (100%) | 42 (89%) | 50 (93%) | 78 (94%) | 81 (96%) | 77 (97%) | 80 (100%) | 63 (94%) | 50 (98%) | 154 (97%) |
| Total URM * | 3 (11%) | 2 (4%) | 4 (7%) | 6 (7%) | 11 (13%) | 6 (8%) | 10 (13%) | 1 (1%) | 6 (12%) | 18 (11%) |
| Black/Afr. Amer. | 1 (4%) | 1 (2%) | - | - | 6 (7%) | - | - | 1 (1%) | 2 (4%) | 4 (3%) |
| Am. Ind./AK Native | - | - | 3 (6%) | 2 (2%) | - | - | 1 (1%) | - | - | 2 (1%) |
| Hawaiian/Pac. Is. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 (1%) |
| Hispanic/Latino | 2 (7%) | 1 (2%) | 1 (2%) | 4 (5%) | 5 (6%) | 6 (8%) | 9 (11%) | - | 4 (8%) | 11 (7%) |
| Asian | 3 (11%) | - | 2 (4%) | 6 (7%) | 5 (6%) | 4 (5%) | 6 (8%) | 8 (12%) | 1 (2%) | 8 (5%) |
| White | 19 (70%) | 40 (85%) | 42 (78%) | 64 (77%) | 61 (73%) | 66 (84%) | 62 (78%) | 52 (78%) | 43 (84%) | 125 (79%) |
| Two or More † | 1 (4%) | - | 2 (4%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (3%) | - | 2 (1%) |
| Unknown ‡ | 1 (4%) | - | - | 1 (1%) | 3 (4%) | - | 1 (1%) | - | - | 1 (1%) |
| International | - | 5 (11%) | 4 (7%) | 5 (6%) | 3 (4%) | 2 (3%) | - | 4 (6%) | 1 (2%) | 5 (3%) |
*URM: Underrepresented Minorities
†Two or More: Applicant selected more than one race/ethnicity.
‡Unknown: Applicant chose not to disclose race/ethnicity information.
"-" indicates n=0
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 9 (33%) | 16 (34%) | 17 (31%) | 37 (45%) | 23 (27%) | 29 (37%) | 35 (44%) | 34 (51%) | 24 (47%) | 69 (43%) |
| Male | 18 (67%) | 31 (66%) | 37 (69%) | 46 (55%) | 61 (73%) | 50 (63%) | 45 (56%) | 33 (49%) | 26 (51%) | 88 (55%) |
| Nonbinary or other legal identity | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 (1%) |
| Total | 27 | 47 | 54 | 83 | 84 | 79 | 80 | 67 | 51 | 159 |
"-" indicates n=0
Geographic Information Systems – Total Enrollments by Demographic
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Enrl | 197 | 176 | 172 | 192 | 223 | 243 | 236 | 207 | 181 | 159 |
| Domestic | 188 (95%) | 166 (94%) | 160 (93%) | 179 (93%) | 211 (95%) | 233 (96%) | 230 (97%) | 199 (96%) | 174 (96%) | 154 (97%) |
| Total URM * | 10 (5%) | 13 (7%) | 13 (8%) | 13 (7%) | 20 (9%) | 22 (9%) | 25 (11%) | 17 (8%) | 15 (8%) | 18 (11%) |
| Black/Afr. Amer. | 2 (1%) | 3 (2%) | 3 (2%) | - | 6 (3%) | 7 (3%) | 6 (3%) | 2 (1%) | 3 (2%) | 4 (3%) |
| Am. Ind./AK Native | - | - | 3 (2%) | 5 (3%) | 3 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 3 (1%) | 1 (0%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1%) |
| Hawaiian/Pac. Is. | - | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 (1%) |
| Hispanic/Latino | 8 (4%) | 8 (5%) | 5 (3%) | 8 (4%) | 11 (5%) | 13 (5%) | 16 (7%) | 14 (7%) | 11 (6%) | 11 (7%) |
| Asian | 13 (7%) | 8 (5%) | 9 (5%) | 10 (5%) | 14 (6%) | 13 (5%) | 14 (6%) | 18 (9%) | 13 (7%) | 8 (5%) |
| White | 157 (80%) | 143 (81%) | 136 (79%) | 152 (79%) | 170 (76%) | 192 (79%) | 185 (78%) | 158 (76%) | 143 (79%) | 125 (79%) |
| Two or More † | 4 (2%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) | 4 (2%) | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) |
| Unknown ‡ | 4 (2%) | 1 (1%) | - | 2 (1%) | 5 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 2 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) |
| International | 9 (5%) | 10 (6%) | 12 (7%) | 13 (7%) | 12 (5%) | 10 (4%) | 6 (3%) | 8 (4%) | 7 (4%) | 5 (3%) |
*URM: Underrepresented Minorities
†Two or More: Applicant selected more than one race/ethnicity.
‡Unknown: Applicant chose not to disclose race/ethnicity information.
"-" indicates n=0
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 67 (34%) | 53 (30%) | 57 (33%) | 69 (36%) | 81 (36%) | 82 (34%) | 88 (37%) | 91 (44%) | 84 (46%) | 69 (43%) |
| Male | 130 (66%) | 123 (70%) | 115 (67%) | 123 (64%) | 142 (64%) | 161 (66%) | 148 (63%) | 116 (56%) | 95 (52%) | 88 (55%) |
| Nonbinary or other legal identity | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) |
| Total | 197 | 176 | 172 | 192 | 223 | 243 | 236 | 207 | 181 | 159 |
"-" indicates n=0
| Total | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGIS | 52 | 45 | 47 | 40 | 52 | 58 | 77 | 50 | 60 | 60 | - |
"-" indicates n=0
Geographic Information Systems – Median Time to Degree (years)
| MGIS | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Major/Degree * | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| First Enrollment † | 2.6 | 3 | 2.3 | 3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Number (n) | n=52 | n=45 | n=47 | n=40 | n=52 | n=58 | n=77 | n=50 | n=60 |
*In Major/Degree: The median time to degree in graduating major and degree at Penn State.
†First Enrollment: The median time to degree based on the first enrollment as a graduate student at Penn State.
Geographic Information Systems – Degree Completion, WC Campus
| MGIS | #Started | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | 4 years | 5 years | 6 years | 7 years | 8 years | 9 years | Total Completed | % Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 Cohort | 74 | 8 | 23 | 15 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 52 | 70% |
| 2016/17 Cohort | 49 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 34 | 69% | |
| 2017/18 Cohort | 56 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 1 | - | - | 39 | 70% | ||
| 2018/19 Cohort | 85 | 14 | 31 | 17 | 2 | 2 | - | 66 | 78% | |||
| 2019/20 Cohort | 84 | 11 | 27 | 9 | 5 | - | 52 | 62% | ||||
| 2020/21 Cohort | 80 | 24 | 17 | 9 | - | 50 | 63% | |||||
| 2021/22 Cohort | 82 | 18 | 26 | - | 44 | 54% | ||||||
| 2022/23 Cohort | 67 | 21 | - | 21 | 31% | |||||||
| 2023/24 Cohort | 53 | - | - | - | ||||||||
| 2024/25 Cohort | - |
"-" indicates n=0
Logic for Program Review Metrics