Geography and Cartography: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Geography and Cartography graduates earn a median $57,853 four years after finishing — $9,493/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 7.1 years. Federal data pools 292 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 4,011 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Geography and Cartography ranks #118 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 42% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | DC | $78,390 |
| 2 | University of Connecticut | CT | $76,851 |
| 3 | University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | $76,851 |
| 4 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | CT | $76,851 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | IL | $75,877 |
| 6 | California State University-Sacramento | CA | $75,234 |
| 7 | University of Nevada-Reno | NV | $74,864 |
| 8 | George Mason University | VA | $74,692 |
| 9 | Dartmouth College | NH | $72,985 |
| 10 | Syracuse University | NY | $71,543 |
| 11 | Binghamton University | NY | $71,207 |
| 12 | California State University-Chico | CA | $69,500 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.