Geographic Information Science and Cartography: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Geographic Information Science and Cartography is a dynamic field dedicated to the creation, analysis, and interpretation of spatial data through advanced mapping technologies and scientific methodologies. This program equips students with the analytical and technical expertise to transform complex geographic information into actionable insights across diverse industries and research domains.
- Cartographic theory and map projections: Explores the principles behind representing Earth’s curved surface on flat maps, emphasizing accuracy, scale, and distortion control in map design.
- Computer-assisted cartography: Focuses on digital tools and software used to produce high-precision maps, enabling efficient data visualization and spatial communication.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Involves the use of integrated software platforms to capture, store, analyze, and visualize spatial data for decision-making in urban planning, environmental science, and logistics.
- Map design and layout: Teaches the visual communication strategies essential for creating maps that are both aesthetically effective and functionally clear to diverse audiences.
- Photogrammetry and air photo interpretation: Applies principles of photography and image analysis to extract accurate measurements and geographic information from aerial and satellite imagery.
- Remote sensing: Utilizes satellite and airborne sensors to collect data about Earth’s surface, supporting applications in climate monitoring, land use assessment, and disaster response.
- Spatial analysis: Employs statistical and computational methods to identify patterns, relationships, and trends within geographic datasets.
- Geodesy: Studies the Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravitational field to provide foundational data for accurate mapping and positioning systems.
- Cartographic editing: Involves the refinement and quality assurance of maps, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and compliance with professional standards.
- Applied mapping solutions: Addresses real-world challenges in sectors such as government, transportation, natural resource management, and commercial development through tailored geographic information systems and cartographic outputs.
Geographic Information Science and Cartography Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Geographic Information Science and Cartography Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Geographic Information Science and Cartography 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 705,160 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 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists 17-1021 | $78,380 | $50,500 - $121,440 | 12,790 | $37.68 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians 17-3031 | $51,940 | $36,910 - $80,870 | 56,720 | $24.97 |
Geographic Information Science and Cartography Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $65,303 in Utah to $127,815 in California—a 96% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Delaware. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 705,160 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 Geographic Information Science and Cartography by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Geographic Information Science and Cartography 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 Geographic Information Science and Cartography is found at Pennsylvania State University, World Campus (153 graduates), Oregon State University (OSU) (120 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (108 graduates), Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (95 graduates), and Northwest Missouri State University (82 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,892 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
153 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
120 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
108 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
95 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
82 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
82 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
81 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
76 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
73 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
65 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
54 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
49 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
44 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
39 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Unity Environmental University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
35 | New Gloucester, Maine | Private | unity.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Other Award
|
35 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Foothill College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Los Altos Hills, California | Public | foothill.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
33 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
29 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Lane Community College |
Other Award
|
28 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | lanecc.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
27 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| The Evergreen State College |
Postbac Cert.
Residency
Other Award
|
27 | Olympia, Washington | Public | evergreen.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
26 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Other Award
|
24 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Master's
|
24 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Other Award
|
23 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
22 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
21 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
21 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
21 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Other Award
|
21 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
20 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
20 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
20 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
20 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Columbia College (CC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
19 | Sonora, California | Public | gocolumbia.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Residency
|
19 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
19 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Other Award
|
19 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Clark University |
Master's
|
19 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
19 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Fort Lewis College (FLC) |
Other Award
|
18 | Durango, Colorado | Public | fortlewis.edu |
| DePaul University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
18 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Calvin University |
Master's
Other Award
|
18 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| Delta State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
18 | Cleveland, Mississippi | Public | deltastate.edu |
| Plymouth State University (PSU) |
Other Award
|
18 | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Public | plymouth.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
18 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
17 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
17 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
16 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
16 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Other Award
|
15 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Arizona Western College (AWC) |
Residency
|
14 | Yuma, Arizona | Public | azwestern.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
14 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Winona, Minnesota | Private | smumn.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
14 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Master's
|
13 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Other Award
|
13 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Central Wyoming College (CWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Riverton, Wyoming | Public | cwc.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
12 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
12 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Other Award
|
12 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| Shasta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Redding, California | Public | shastacollege.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
11 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
11 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Green River College (GRC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Auburn, Washington | Public | greenriver.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Master's
|
11 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Geographic Information Science and Cartography programs
How much can I earn with a Geographic Information Science and Cartography degree?
Salaries for Geographic Information Science and Cartography 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 $127,815 compared to $65,303 in Utah. Approximately 705,160 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 Geographic Information Science and Cartography programs?
Currently 247 accredited institutions offer Geographic Information Science and Cartography degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pennsylvania State University, World Campus (153 graduates), Oregon State University (OSU) (120 graduates), and University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (108 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 Geographic Information Science and Cartography growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 674 in 2010 to 3,577 in 2023-24. This represents a 431% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Geographic Information Science and Cartography degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Geographers, and Geography Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 705,160 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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