Geography: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Geography is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the complex relationships between humans and the Earth’s physical environments. By analyzing spatial patterns and processes, this program equips students with the analytical tools to explore how people, ecosystems, and natural resources interact across time and space.
- Historical and Political Geography: Examines how political boundaries, state formation, and historical events have shaped landscapes and human interactions across regions.
- Cultural Geography: Investigates the spatial dimensions of human cultures, including language, religion, migration, and the cultural construction of place.
- Economic Geography: Explores the spatial organization of economic activities, from global supply chains to local markets and resource distribution systems.
- Physical Geography: Focuses on Earth’s natural systems, including climate, landforms, hydrology, soils, and ecosystems, and their dynamic processes.
- Regional Science: Integrates geographic knowledge with social, economic, and environmental data to study specific areas and their unique characteristics.
- Cartographic Methods: Teaches the principles and techniques of map design, interpretation, and visualization for effective spatial communication.
- Remote Sensing: Utilizes satellite and aerial imagery to collect, analyze, and interpret environmental and human-made features across large geographic areas.
- Spatial Analysis: Applies quantitative and computational methods to model, visualize, and understand patterns in geographic data using GIS and statistical tools.
- Applied Geographic Research: Applies geographic knowledge to real-world challenges such as sustainable land-use planning, environmental management, urban development, and international development studies.
Geography Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Geography Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Geography degrees, including Managers, All Other, Geographers and Geography Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 692,370 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Geographers 19-3092 | $97,200 | $62,390 - $133,680 | 1,380 | $46.73 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1064 | $86,730 | $49,990 - $164,350 | 3,290 | N/A |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians 17-3031 | $51,940 | $36,910 - $80,870 | 56,720 | $24.97 |
Geography Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $65,330 in Utah to $134,883 in California—a 106% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Delaware. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 692,370 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Geography by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Geography programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Geography is found at University of Florida (UF) (95 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (75 graduates), Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (74 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (56 graduates), and San Diego State University (SDSU) (56 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,498 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Residency
Other Award
|
95 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
75 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Postbac Cert.
|
50 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
41 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
38 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Miami University |
Other Award
|
31 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
30 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Sonoma State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Rohnert Park, California | Public | sonoma.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Other Award
|
27 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Park University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
22 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Salisbury University (SU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Salisbury, Maryland | Public | salisbury.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
18 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Other Award
|
16 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| University of Mary Washington (UMW) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | Public | umw.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
14 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
13 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
12 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHH) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Hilo, Hawaii | Public | hilo.hawaii.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
11 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
11 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Geography programs
How much can I earn with a Geography degree?
Salaries for Geography graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Geographers earn around $97,200. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $134,883 compared to $65,330 in Utah. Approximately 692,370 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Geography programs?
Currently 289 accredited institutions offer Geography degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Florida (UF) (95 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (75 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (74 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Geography growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 6,377 in 2010 to a peak of 5,477 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,315 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Geography degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Geographers, and Geography Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 692,370 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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