Best Geography and Cartography Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)
These are the top schools offering Geography and Cartography, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Geography and Cartography graduate earns $38,355/yr across 95 schools.
What do Geography and Cartography graduates do? See career paths and salaries →Why a Sacramento School Leads the Nation in Mapping
California State University-Sacramento's #1 ranking isn't just about academic quality; it's about location. Situated in the state capital, the program offers a direct pipeline into the heart of California's massive public sector. Graduates are perfectly positioned for careers in state agencies like Caltrans (transportation) and the Department of Water Resources, which are among the largest employers of geographers and GIS specialists. This proximity provides unparalleled internship and networking opportunities, translating into strong hiring outcomes and solid earnings ($48,227/yr) right out of the gate.
The Smartest Financial Bet? An Online Degree From Florida
The appearance of University of Florida-Online at #6 is the most significant financial story in this ranking. It achieves a stunning 35.2x ROI by pairing the high earnings potential of a top-tier university brand ($43,856/yr) with incredibly low tuition ($15,504). This model works because modern geography and cartography are primarily digital, screen-based professions. UF-Online delivers the valuable degree and career outcomes without the high cost of a traditional campus experience, making it the highest-value proposition in the top 10.
The Public School Monopoly on Geography
The near-total dominance of public universities (19 of the top 20) is no accident. Geography and cartography are intrinsically linked to the missions of state and land-grant institutions. These schools were founded to support state-level needs in agriculture, natural resource management, and urban planning—the very sectors that employ geography graduates. Their deep connections to government agencies and large-scale research projects create a career ecosystem that most private universities, with different priorities, simply cannot match.
Don't Fear the AI: Your Job Is Becoming an Analyst, Not a Drafter
Seeing that 100% of programs face high AI exposure might seem alarming, but it signals an evolution, not an extinction. The 53% task exposure refers to the automation of tedious, manual work like digitizing features from satellite images. This frees you, the human expert, to focus on higher-value tasks: asking critical questions, interpreting spatial patterns, and using AI-generated maps to make strategic decisions. Your career won't be about drawing the map, but about telling leaders what the map means.
Leading the field for Geography and Cartography
The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 95 programs below.
All Geography and Cartography Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public
|
65
61–66
|
$48,227/yr | 20.8x |
| 2 |
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
|
63
59–64
|
$54,204/yr | 12.6x |
| 3 |
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public
|
61
59–62
|
$40,380/yr | 21.4x |
| 4 |
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
|
61
59–62
|
$41,648/yr | 21.3x |
| 5 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
|
61
59–62
|
$42,210/yr | 21.7x |
| 6 |
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public
|
61
58–62
|
$43,856/yr | 35.2x |
| 7 |
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · Public
|
60
58–61
|
$40,913/yr | 15.7x |
| 8 |
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Private nonprofit
|
60
58–60
|
$40,051/yr | 24.0x |
| 9 |
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public
|
60
57–61
|
$49,568/yr | 11.5x |
| 10 |
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
|
59
57–60
|
$43,856/yr | 21.0x |
| 11 |
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA · Public
|
59
58–60
|
$40,020/yr | 25.6x |
| 12 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
|
57
54–58
|
$49,267/yr | 11.3x |
| 13 |
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public
|
57
56–58
|
$39,259/yr | 22.2x |
| 14 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
|
57
55–58
|
$42,489/yr | 12.4x |
| 15 |
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · Public
|
56
53–57
|
$44,543/yr | 11.1x |
| 16 |
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV · Public
|
56
52–57
|
$53,079/yr | 13.8x |
| 17 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
|
56
53–57
|
$44,789/yr | 11.1x |
| 18 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
|
56
54–57
|
$42,997/yr | 12.9x |
| 19 |
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · Public
|
55
53–56
|
$40,434/yr | 13.9x |
| 20 |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public
|
54
55–55
|
$35,426/yr | 21.0x |
| 21 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
|
54
53–55
|
$40,553/yr | 14.4x |
| 22 |
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · Public
|
54
51–55
|
$44,380/yr | 9.2x |
| 23 |
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public
|
54
51–55
|
$45,094/yr | 10.2x |
| 24 |
Park University
Parkville, MO · Private nonprofit
|
53
48–54
|
$58,786/yr | 8.0x |
| 25 |
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR · Public
|
53
50–54
|
$45,030/yr | 8.7x |
| 26 |
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public
|
53
50–54
|
$44,909/yr | 10.9x |
| 27 |
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public
|
53
53–54
|
$36,878/yr | 13.9x |
| 28 |
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public
|
53
52–54
|
$40,048/yr | 14.1x |
| 29 |
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public
|
52
49–53
|
$46,929/yr | 9.6x |
| 30 |
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
|
52
51–53
|
$39,960/yr | 12.1x |
| 31 |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · Public
|
52
52–53
|
$37,521/yr | 16.5x |
| 32 |
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public
|
51
49–51
|
$40,546/yr | 11.0x |
| 33 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
|
51
51–51
|
$36,776/yr | 11.4x |
| 34 |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · Public
|
50
49–50
|
$39,104/yr | 12.4x |
| 35 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public
|
50
50–51
|
$39,328/yr | 9.6x |
| 36 |
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public
|
49
52–50
|
$27,002/yr | 25.7x |
| 37 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
|
49
49–49
|
$37,398/yr | 9.8x |
| 38 |
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public
|
49
46–50
|
$44,861/yr | 9.4x |
| 39 |
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public
|
49
46–50
|
$45,566/yr | 9.4x |
| 40 |
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
|
49
46–50
|
$44,553/yr | 8.7x |
| 41 |
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · Public
|
48
49–49
|
$35,608/yr | 20.0x |
| 42 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
|
48
46–49
|
$42,454/yr | 10.8x |
| 43 |
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL · Public
|
47
45–48
|
$41,076/yr | 9.6x |
| 44 |
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
|
47
45–48
|
$42,829/yr | 8.3x |
| 45 |
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
|
47
49–47
|
$32,198/yr | 18.4x |
| 46 |
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · Public
|
47
46–48
|
$40,614/yr | 11.4x |
| 47 |
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY · Public
|
47
47–48
|
$37,844/yr | 10.2x |
| 48 |
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · Public
|
47
48–48
|
$35,936/yr | 13.5x |
| 49 |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ · Public
|
47
44–48
|
$49,267/yr | — |
| 50 |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · Public
|
46
47–47
|
$36,426/yr | 12.4x |
| 51 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
|
46
46–47
|
$38,019/yr | 8.2x |
| 52 |
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
|
46
48–46
|
$33,199/yr | 18.9x |
| 53 |
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public
|
46
48–46
|
$33,199/yr | 18.9x |
| 54 |
Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public
|
46
48–46
|
$33,199/yr | 18.9x |
| 55 |
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public
|
46
48–46
|
$33,199/yr | 18.9x |
| 56 |
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public
|
46
48–46
|
$33,199/yr | 18.9x |
| 57 |
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT · Public
|
46
45–47
|
$41,052/yr | 10.0x |
| 58 |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public
|
46
46–46
|
$37,537/yr | 11.8x |
| 59 |
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
|
45
44–45
|
$38,648/yr | 10.7x |
| 60 |
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit
|
45
41–46
|
$56,756/yr | 1.2x |
| 61 |
George Washington University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit
|
44
40–45
|
$52,883/yr | 1.0x |
| 62 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public
|
44
42–45
|
$42,214/yr | 5.6x |
| 63 |
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · Public
|
44
42–45
|
$42,638/yr | 6.2x |
| 64 |
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY · Public
|
44
44–45
|
$38,784/yr | 10.0x |
| 65 |
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public
|
44
46–45
|
$34,435/yr | 12.5x |
| 66 |
Ball State University
Muncie, IN · Public
|
43
44–43
|
$34,274/yr | 11.2x |
| 67 |
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI · Public
|
43
41–44
|
$41,103/yr | 5.6x |
| 68 |
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
|
41
43–41
|
$26,040/yr | 17.5x |
| 69 |
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public
|
41
40–42
|
$38,726/yr | 5.9x |
| 70 |
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
|
41
44–42
|
$29,931/yr | 13.6x |
| 71 |
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
|
40
42–41
|
$33,727/yr | 11.4x |
| 72 |
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public
|
40
40–40
|
$36,996/yr | 6.7x |
| 73 |
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · Public
|
40
41–41
|
$35,838/yr | 7.9x |
| 74 |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · Public
|
39
41–39
|
$27,355/yr | 14.8x |
| 75 |
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
|
39
40–39
|
$24,875/yr | 16.0x |
| 76 |
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · Public
|
39
41–40
|
$26,801/yr | 12.0x |
| 77 |
Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public
|
39
40–40
|
$35,330/yr | 9.2x |
| 78 |
Salem State University
Salem, MA · Public
|
38
40–39
|
$32,504/yr | 9.6x |
| 79 |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · Public
|
38
41–39
|
$25,975/yr | 15.5x |
| 80 |
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
|
37
39–38
|
$32,078/yr | 7.4x |
| 81 |
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit
|
37
36–38
|
$40,683/yr | 1.0x |
| 82 |
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD · Public
|
37
39–38
|
$25,255/yr | 11.8x |
| 83 |
SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY · Public
|
37
39–38
|
$33,758/yr | 8.4x |
| 84 |
Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public
|
37
38–37
|
$33,199/yr | 8.0x |
| 85 |
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public
|
37
38–38
|
$23,553/yr | 13.1x |
| 86 |
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public
|
36
37–37
|
$34,952/yr | 4.5x |
| 87 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM · Public
|
36
38–37
|
$32,096/yr | 8.9x |
| 88 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · Public
|
36
39–37
|
$32,052/yr | 10.2x |
| 89 |
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH · Public
|
35
37–35
|
$31,414/yr | 8.4x |
| 90 |
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, HI · Public
|
34
37–35
|
$30,293/yr | 8.7x |
| 91 |
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · Public
|
33
36–34
|
$29,390/yr | 9.5x |
| 92 |
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT · Public
|
33
35–34
|
$33,424/yr | 3.4x |
| 93 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
|
27
29–28
|
$26,701/yr | 2.9x |
| 94 |
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit
|
26
28–26
|
$29,713/yr | 0.3x |
| 95 |
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
|
23
25–23
|
$30,053/yr | 1.2x |
Frequently asked
What is the best school for Geography and Cartography?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, California State University-Sacramento ranks #1 for Geography and Cartography with a score of 65/100 and graduate earnings of $48,227/yr.
How much do Geography and Cartography graduates earn?
Across 95 schools, Geography and Cartography graduates earn an average of $38,355/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $58,786/yr.
Is Geography and Cartography a good major for AI resistance?
Geography and Cartography has an average AI task exposure of 53%, rated "High". This field has significant AI exposure. Check individual program pages for scenario analysis.