Which state pays geography bachelor's graduates the most?

Texas, where the median program pays its graduates $39,960 in their first year, the highest of 3 state rankings. Wisconsin is next, at $37,537.

Which geography bachelor's program pays the most?

Park University in Missouri reports the highest first-year pay of the 90 programs ranked here, $58,786.

How much debt do geography bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $22,250 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 55% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Geography (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

90 programs report first-year pay
3 state rankings
Bachelor's in Geography and Cartography

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median geography bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $38,944 in their first year and $56,803 five years after. Texas has the highest state median ($39,960), and California the lowest ($35,426). The median program leaves its graduates with $22,250 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$38,944Across 90 programs

Median pay after 5 years$56,803Across 95 programs

Median federal debt$22,250Across 87 programs

Debt-to-earnings55%Across 75 programs

All 90 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Park UniversityParkville, MO · private nonprofit	$58,786	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
2	Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · private nonprofit	$56,756	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
3	Texas A&MCollege Station, TX · public	$54,204	$55,848	$71,323	$16,479	30%
4	University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · public	$53,079	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
5	George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$52,883	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,000	47%
6	George MasonFairfax, VA · public	$49,568	$49,027	$69,330	$22,000	44%
7	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$49,267	Not adjusted	$59,314	$28,500	58%
8	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$48,227	$43,558	$66,360	$15,881	33%
9	University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC · public	$46,929	Not adjusted	$53,719	$23,250	50%
10	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$46,477	Not adjusted	$56,029	$26,000	56%
11	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$45,566	Not adjusted	Not reported	$23,904	52%
12	JMUHarrisonburg, VA · public	$45,094	$44,602	$60,642	$19,800	44%
13	University of OregonEugene, OR · public	$45,030	$43,566	$60,722	$22,775	51%
14	Texas StateSan Marcos, TX · public	$44,909	$46,271	$54,724	$22,657	50%
15	Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO · public	$44,861	$43,532	Not reported	$35,136	78%
16	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$44,789	$48,278	$62,445	$23,250	52%
17	University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN · public	$44,553	$48,496	$52,073	$26,000	58%
18	Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · public	$44,543	Not adjusted	$62,741	$23,775	53%
19	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$44,380	$40,789	$64,292	$25,250	57%
20	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$43,856	$42,408	$56,172	$18,600	42%
21	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$42,997	$45,695	$62,158	$20,250	47%
22	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$42,829	Not adjusted	$50,703	$28,250	66%
23	Montclair StateMontclair, NJ · public	$42,638	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
24	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$42,489	$39,705	$67,979	$17,504	41%
25	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$42,454	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
26	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$42,214	$42,232	Not reported	$25,000	59%
27	UNC CharlotteCharlotte, NC · public	$42,210	$44,749	$65,598	$23,954	57%
28	Appalachian StateBoone, NC · public	$41,648	$44,153	$67,126	$17,750	43%
29	Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI · public	$41,103	$42,719	Not reported	$17,425	42%
30	University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL · public	$41,076	$46,245	$50,714	$28,500	69%
31	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$41,052	$41,524	Not reported	$12,373	30%
32	University of MarylandCollege Park, MD · public	$40,913	$38,980	$77,031	$24,441	60%
33	Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · private nonprofit	$40,683	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	66%
34	Sonoma StateRohnert Park, CA · public	$40,614	Not adjusted	Not reported	$11,000	27%
35	Minnesota State MankatoMankato, MN · public	$40,553	Not adjusted	$58,276	Not reported	Not reported
36	University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · public	$40,546	Not adjusted	$57,002	$23,750	59%
37	Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · public	$40,434	$37,466	$61,599	$20,596	51%
38	Chico StateChico, CA · public	$40,380	$36,470	$72,207	$19,250	48%
39	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$40,051	$40,511	$64,927	$10,360	26%
40	UW-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · public	$40,048	$42,561	$55,942	$21,212	53%
41	Kennesaw StateKennesaw, GA · public	$40,020	$41,561	$61,548	$32,500	81%
42	UNTDenton, TX · public	$39,960	$41,172	$58,717	$20,994	53%
43	Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · public	$39,328	$38,899	$65,342	$20,500	52%
44	USFTampa, FL · public	$39,259	$37,963	$59,516	Not reported	Not reported
45	CU DenverDenver, CO · public	$39,104	$37,946	$53,701	$22,468	57%
46	SUNY OneontaOneonta, NY · public	$38,784	$35,937	Not reported	$20,500	53%
47	University of MissouriColumbia, MO · public	$38,726	Not adjusted	Not reported	$21,000	54%
48	San Diego StateSan Diego, CA · public	$38,648	$34,906	Not reported	$14,999	39%
49	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$38,019	$38,551	$60,883	$20,500	54%
50	University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · public	$37,844	Not adjusted	$57,437	Not reported	Not reported
51	UW-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · public	$37,537	$39,893	$49,518	$23,850	64%
52	UW-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · public	$37,521	$39,876	$57,676	$23,983	64%
53	UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · public	$37,398	$33,777	$64,880	$13,750	37%
54	University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO · public	$36,996	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
55	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$36,878	$37,996	$69,390	$21,875	59%
56	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$36,776	$33,215	$68,424	$13,969	38%
57	UCCSColorado Springs, CO · public	$36,426	$35,347	$52,181	$17,500	48%
58	Sam Houston StateHuntsville, TX · public	$35,936	$37,026	$53,453	$25,156	70%
59	Grand Valley StateAllendale, MI · public	$35,838	$37,247	$52,050	$20,500	57%
60	Florida StateTallahassee, FL · public	$35,608	Not adjusted	$47,482	$26,707	75%
61	Cal Poly PomonaPomona, CA · public	$35,426	$31,996	$65,411	$15,826	45%
62	Portland StatePortland, OR · public	$35,330	$34,181	$45,964	$26,500	75%
63	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$34,952	$34,967	Not reported	$15,500	44%
64	WVUMorgantown, WV · public	$34,435	Not adjusted	$52,226	$23,089	67%
65	Ball StateMuncie, IN · public	$34,274	$36,724	$52,447	$26,000	76%
66	SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo, NY · public	$33,758	$31,280	Not reported	$14,575	43%
67	Cal State LALos Angeles, CA · public	$33,727	$30,462	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
68	University of VermontBurlington, VT · public	$33,424	Not adjusted	Not reported	$18,284	55%
69	Ohio UniversityAthens, OH · public	$33,199	$35,785	$49,300	$26,000	78%
70	Salem StateSalem, MA · public	$32,504	$30,735	$50,774	$27,000	83%
71	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$32,198	$29,081	$54,468	$15,000	47%
72	Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia, PA · public	$32,122	$32,921	$56,840	Not reported	Not reported
73	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$32,096	Not adjusted	Not reported	$14,705	46%
74	CU BoulderBoulder, CO · public	$32,078	$31,128	$55,326	$21,802	68%
75	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$32,052	$34,063	$44,943	$27,000	84%
76	Kent StateKent, OH · public	$31,414	Not adjusted	$48,350	Not reported	Not reported
77	UH HiloHilo, HI · public	$30,293	$27,551	Not reported	$21,500	71%
78	Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN · private nonprofit	$30,053	$30,473	$57,230	$19,049	63%
79	Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · public	$29,931	$27,969	$54,097	$21,500	72%
80	Clark UniversityWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$29,713	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,500	89%
81	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$29,390	$27,233	$45,228	$24,255	83%
82	Cal Poly HumboldtArcata, CA · public	$27,355	$24,706	$50,093	$17,412	64%
83	CSUNNorthridge, CA · public	$27,002	$24,388	$75,692	$8,250	31%
84	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$26,801	Not adjusted	$58,281	$22,133	83%
85	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$26,701	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
86	Cal State FullertonFullerton, CA · public	$26,040	$23,519	$52,460	Not reported	Not reported
87	UNC GreensboroGreensboro, NC · public	$25,975	$27,537	$50,081	$22,851	88%
88	Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD · public	$25,255	$24,062	$54,341	$25,000	99%
89	San Francisco StateSan Francisco, CA · public	$24,875	$22,467	$50,547	$13,768	55%
90	Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA · public	$23,553	Not adjusted	$51,964	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 62 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 28, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

15 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Geography (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's geography bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Texas	5	$39,960	$21,435
2	Wisconsin	5	$37,537	$23,850
3	California	13	$35,426	$14,999

Programs in 32 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

CSUN, CA$8,250
Sonoma State, CA$11,000
UC Santa Barbara, CA$13,750
San Francisco State, CA$13,768
UCLA, CA$13,969
San Diego State, CA$14,999
Cal State Long Beach, CA$15,000
Cal Poly Pomona, CA$15,826
Sacramento State, CA$15,881
Texas A&M, TX$16,479

Lowest debt for the pay

Only the 21 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to geography, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

$54,240

Median pay in the US. 58,010 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $37,520Top 10%: $81,630

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

$81,390

Median pay in the US. 14,260 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 900 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $53,740Top 10%: $126,950

Geographers

$102,040

Median pay in the US. 1,400 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to shrink 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 100 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $66,770Top 10%: $136,660

Common questions

The median geography bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $38,944 in their first year and $56,803 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024