Best Schools for Geography and Cartography

Geography and Cartography graduates earn a median of $35,056 within two years of graduation, ranking #157 out of 292 tracked majors — 1% below the median across all fields. There are 136 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 2,954 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates earn $46,869 while Syracuse University graduates earn $18,309 — a $28,560 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Geography and Cartography graduates see an average -1% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

136
Schools
$35,056
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#157
of 292 Majors
2,954
Graduates

Public vs Private: Geography and Cartography

Public (125 schools)
$35,225
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (11 schools)
$33,136
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Geography and Cartography, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Geography and Cartography by State

Top Geography and Cartography Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

$46,869
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,230
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 80.2%
#2
D

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

$46,478
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,623
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 6.2%
#3
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 11.7%
#4
U

University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 85.3%
#5
B

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $50,425
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 37.7%
#6
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$44,971
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.5%
#7
N

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public

$44,384
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.0%
#8
N

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$44,189
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,698
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 70.5%
#9
K

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.4%
#10
T

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 82.8%
#11
M

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,769
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 82.1%
#12
E

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.8%
#13
K

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,238
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 69.2%
#14
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$41,937
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,724
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 83.9%
#15
S

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public

$41,789
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,843
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 97.2%
#16
T

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.8%
#17
U

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 53.9%
#18
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,779
Grads: 61
Acceptance: 63.2%
#19
U

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.0%
#20
U

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.5%
#21
U

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 80.2%
#22
U

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.5%
#23
S

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, PA · Public

$41,193
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 85.5%
#24
R

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$40,647
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,975
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 77.8%
#25
R

Radford University

Radford, VA · Public

$40,647
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,110
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 90.6%
#26
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$40,537
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 72.5%
#27
T

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$40,485
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,789
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 46.0%
#28
U

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public

$40,467
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.7%
#29
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$39,832
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,324
Grads: 84
Acceptance: 90.2%
#30
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$39,832
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,789
Grads: 76
Acceptance: 44.8%
#31
A

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

$39,832
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,324
Grads: 84
Acceptance: 64.1%
#32
I

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

$39,585
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,337
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 91.2%
#33
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$39,523
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,114
Grads: 82
Acceptance: 29.1%
#34
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$39,009
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.4%
#35
W

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$39,009
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.2%
#36
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,932
Grads: 75
Acceptance: 50.8%
#37
J

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,555
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 76.3%
#38
U

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.7%
#39
S

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,932
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 88.6%
#40
G

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 61.8%
#41
E

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.1%
#42
O

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,740
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 90.5%
#43
A

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public

$37,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,503
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 88.6%
#44
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$37,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,877
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 76.5%
#45
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$37,671
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,884
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 69.2%
#46
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,965
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 78.8%
#47
S

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,149
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 74.6%
#48
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,965
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 68.4%
#49
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$37,478
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,055
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 77.8%
#50
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,662
Grads: 129
Acceptance: 8.7%

Showing top 50 of 136 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Geography and Cartography?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranks #1 for Geography and Cartography with median graduate earnings of $46,869 within two years. There are 136 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Geography and Cartography graduates earn?
Geography and Cartography graduates earn an average of $35,056 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $18,309 to $46,869 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Geography and Cartography program?
The average acceptance rate across Geography and Cartography programs is 73.8%. The most selective program is at Dartmouth College with a 6.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Geography and Cartography?
Private Geography and Cartography programs average $33,136 in early earnings vs $35,225 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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