2026 Best Geography Schools in California
Geography programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their geography programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 97 schools to find the best for geography students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Geography in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Geography
University Of California Santa Barbara is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in geography. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $37,398. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in geography from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 geography degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Geography graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $36,776 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,969 to complete this degree.
Get the full geography details for University Of California Los Angeles
Students looking for a strong geography program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 25 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $48,227 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,881 to complete this degree.
Read more about the geography program at California State University Sacramento
San Diego State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 54 geography degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $38,648. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for San Diego State University
Students looking for a strong geography program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $52,865 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Get the full geography details for California State University Long Beach
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #6 position for geography this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 27 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $35,426. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $15,826 in student loans.
See the full geography program report for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Sonoma State University placed #7 among the best geography schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 geography students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $40,614 early in their careers. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in geography from Sonoma State University
California State University Northridge ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Northridge awarded about 20 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $27,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Fullerton ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 22 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $26,040 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for California State University Fullerton
California State University Los Angeles placed #10 among the best geography schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $33,727 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
Read more about the geography program at California State University Los Angeles
San Francisco State University landed the #11 spot for geography this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 19 geography degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $24,875 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,768.
Read more about the geography program at San Francisco State University
Santa Barbara City College placed #12 among the best geography schools. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 11 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Typical student debt for the program is $21,090.
Get the full geography details for Santa Barbara City College
Saddleback College placed #13 among the best geography schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. About 12 geography degrees were awarded at Saddleback College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for Saddleback College
Humboldt State University landed the #14 spot for geography this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 geography students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $27,355 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,412 to complete this degree.
See the full geography program report for Humboldt State University
View All Geography Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 97 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
