Higher Education
GIS improves education, research, and administration
Applying The Science of Where
Enhance learning in any field
Maps and data analytics combine to produce insights that deepen understanding of any topic. ArcGIS visualizes data from many sources to reveal patterns and relationships between people and places. These insights improve decision-making in both natural and human systems.
Career-ready graduates
More than 350,000 organizations around the world use ArcGIS to solve complex global problems, and they need skilled graduates to hire. Learning industry-standard ArcGIS positions you for success.
Advance knowledge through scientific research
Modern GIS tools support your work with authoritative data, robust analytical tools, and a framework for collaboration. ArcGIS connects to scientific models and methodologies and interoperates with other data science tools such as Python and R.
See Esri’s scientific partnerships
Smart campus operations
ArcGIS helps administrators put resources in the right places to get work done. Smart campus maps integrate with common business systems to give you a holistic view of a campus and help manage operations, from assigning classroom space to maintaining campus safety and security.
Explore smart campus operations
Licensing options
Academic licenses are for teaching and research. For facilities management, enrollment, safety, etc., choose Administrative licenses.
- For instructors
- For administrators
For instructors
Academic – Small Department (5 users)
A suite of apps to help research teams in data collection, spatial analysis, and data science.
Academic – Medium Department (50 users)
A suite of apps to support teaching and research with spatial analysis and data science tools.
Academic – Large Department (100 users)
A suite of apps to support teaching and research with spatial analysis and data science tools.
For administrators
Administrative —Small Department (5 users)
A suite of apps to support master planning, facilities management, and campus safety
Administrative – Medium Department (50 users)
A suite of apps to support master planning, facilities management, and campus safety.
Administrative - Large Department (100 users)
A suite of apps to support master planning, facilities management, and campus safety.
Is my institution eligible?
Frequently asked questions
Do I qualify for an Academic Department License or an Administrative Use Department license?
Faculty and staff of accredited, degree-granting institutions, noncommercial research institutes, and museums are eligible to acquire these special Esri Education Program packages for teaching, research, and the administration of such institutions. Organizations that do not qualify for the Esri Education Program packages should contact an Esri sales representative to determine the option that is right for them.
How does verification work?
Click the button Get Verified and enter the information required to confirm that you are qualified. The information you submit is compared against authoritative data sources. SheerID instantly confirms whether you qualify. If you are verified, you will receive a single-use promo code to use at checkout.
How long does it take to get verified?
Verification is instant in most cases. If you are not instantly verified, in less than 20 minutes you will be contacted via email with your eligibility status.
What is the difference between an instructor and an administrator?
An instructor teaches; an administrator manages the operation of an educational institution. You are considered an administrator if your work involves institutional research; asset, facilities, or enrollment management; campus safety; or tasks not directly related to student learning or scholarly research.
What is SheerID?
SheerID is a third-party verification service that works on behalf of companies to verify an individual's affiliations. For information on SheerID services, visit www.SheerID.com.
How do I know you won’t sell or share my information?
Both Esri and SheerID take your privacy very seriously. We use your information only to confirm your eligibility. We do not sell or rent your information. We partner with SheerID for verification of eligibility and SheerID does not store documents or images uploaded to its system. Click to read Esri's full privacy policy and SheerID's full privacy policy.
Success Story
Scaling Up GIS across Campus
The willingness to experiment with innovative approaches to GIS has yielded benefits for numerous field-based teaching and research activities across the university.
Peter Knoop
Research Computing Consultant, University of Michigan
Read story
Resources for higher education
Esri Academy
Whether you're new to ArcGIS or a seasoned GIS professional, our learning resources can help you achieve your goals.
Visit Esri Academy
Learn ArcGIS
Designed for self-study, Learn ArcGIS teaches you to use the ArcGIS platform to solve real-world problems in many industries.
Start learning ArcGIS
Spatial data science
Find resources to bring spatial data science tools and methods into your teaching and research.
View resources
Location analytics in business education
Combine powerful analytics with spatial data to enrich business education. These resources will get you started.
View resources
Architecture, planning, and design education
Use these tutorials and resources to integrate ArcGIS into architecture, geodesign, and urban planning education.
View resources
Upcoming events and webinars
Campus operations in higher education
This webinar series will walk you through building efficient and effective operations throughout your campus, using geospatial tools.
Returning to campus safely
How do we maintain social distances across campus and track high-traffic area sanitation requirements? Watch this recording to explore solutions.
Education Summit recordings
Recordings for the 2020 Education Summit are now available for viewing, including chat logs from various sessions.
Applied Geography Conference (AGC)
Join AGC for their virtual conference on October 18 — 20, 2020 to experience network opportunities, workshops, paper sessions, keynotes, and a track on social justice.
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Let's talk
Esri's education outreach efforts include sharing information and best practices, providing advice, and advocating for educators' needs. Have a question or comment about GIS in education? Schedule a conversation with a member of our team.
