Best Colleges for Geography and Cartography

Geography and Cartography graduates enter a growing field with median starting salaries around $35,056, though earnings can increase significantly with specialization in GIS technology or urban planning. When evaluating programs among the 136 schools offering this major, students should prioritize hands-on experience with mapping software, internship opportunities with government agencies or environmental organizations, and access to modern GIS labs. Strong programs typically combine fieldwork with technical training in spatial analysis and data visualization. Look for faculty who actively research in areas like climate science, urban development, or natural resource management. Consider schools that offer concentrations in environmental geography, cartographic design, or geospatial intelligence to align with career goals.

Schools Ranked

$43,014

Avg. Program Earnings

67.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina	$46,869	67.7%	public
2	Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire	$46,478	96.0%	private-nonprofit
3	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$46,087	92.9%	public
4	University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada	$46,087	62.4%	public
5	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	$45,696	83.6%	public
6	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$44,971	85.2%	private-nonprofit
7	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona	$44,384	56.9%	public
8	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, Illinois	$44,189	49.6%	public
9	Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas	$42,682	70.5%	public
10	Towson University Towson, Maryland	$42,682	67.6%	public
11	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$42,682	81.8%	public
12	Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington	$42,682	47.2%	public
13	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia	$42,682	48.1%	public
14	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan	$41,937	82.2%	public
15	Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Edwardsville, Illinois	$41,789	55.0%	public
16	The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama	$41,565	73.7%	public
17	University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut	$41,565	83.8%	public
18	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$41,565	83.8%	public
19	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$41,565	59.5%	public
20	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$41,565	56.7%	public
21	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$41,565	56.9%	public
22	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$41,565	65.4%	public
23	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, Pennsylvania	$41,193	51.6%	public
24	Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey	$40,647	68.3%	public
25	Radford University Radford, Virginia	$40,647	49.6%	public