Geography: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Geography is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that explores the spatial relationships between people, places, and environments across the globe. This program equips students with analytical tools to understand complex patterns of human and physical systems, from urban development and climate change to cultural landscapes and resource management.
- Physical Geography: Examines natural processes shaping Earth’s surface, including climate systems, landforms, ecosystems, and environmental change over time.
- Human Geography: Investigates the spatial organization of human activities, such as population distribution, migration, economic systems, and cultural practices across regions.
- Geospatial Technologies: Focuses on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS) to collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data.
- Environmental Geography: Studies the interactions between human societies and natural environments, emphasizing sustainability, conservation, and the impacts of climate change.
- Regional Studies: Involves in-depth analysis of specific world regions, integrating physical, cultural, political, and economic dimensions to understand local and global dynamics.
- Cartography and Spatial Visualization: Develops skills in map design, data representation, and the effective communication of geographic information through visual media.
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 635,650 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 |
Geography Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $80,340 in Indiana to $171,910 in District of Columbia—a 114% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Delaware, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 635,650 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 21 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 Pennsylvania State University, World Campus (60 graduates), Portland Community College (PCC) (27 graduates), University of Mary Washington (UMW) (24 graduates), Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) (21 graduates), and Temple University (17 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 213 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 |
Master's
|
60 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
27 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| University of Mary Washington (UMW) |
Other Award
|
24 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | Public | umw.edu |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Other Award
|
21 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Residency
|
5 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Nunez Community College |
Other Award
|
4 | Chalmette, Louisiana | Public | nunez.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
4 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| Rowan University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Other Award
|
4 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Master's
|
3 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Other Award
|
2 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Master's
|
1 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Samford University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.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 District of Columbia average $171,910 compared to $80,340 in Indiana. Approximately 635,650 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 21 accredited institutions offer Geography degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pennsylvania State University, World Campus (60 graduates), Portland Community College (PCC) (27 graduates), and University of Mary Washington (UMW) (24 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 442 in 2010 to a peak of 364 in 2020, before declining slightly to 213 in 2023-24. This represents a 52% 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 635,650 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.
Related Social Sciences Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Social Sciences field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Applied and Public Sociology
A program that focuses on the application of sociological theory, methods, skills, and research to resolve particular issues in real-world settings. Includes instruction...
Rural Sociology
A program that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies. Includes instruction in sociological theory, research methods, statistics, sociology of agriculture,...
Sociology
Any instructional program in sociology not listed above.
Urban Studies and Affairs
A program that focuses on the application of social science principles to the study of urban institutions and the forces influencing urban social...
Sociology and Anthropology
A program that combines sociology and anthropology to study how society is organized, the origins and development of social institutions, social change, social...
Social Sciences
Any instructional program in social sciences not listed above.