by our College Data Analytics Team
[Geography And Cartography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a geography and cartography degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the early-career earnings of their geography and cartography graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose geography and cartography graduates go on to earn the most.
Eastern Washington University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid geography and cartography graduates in the Far Western Region. Eastern Washington University is a public school located in the town of Cheney. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from Eastern Washington University make a median of around $58,923 per year.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. Geography And Cartography graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of about $56,803 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Sacramento earned it the #3 place for geography and cartography. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $66,360 per year.
California State University Fresno came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,372.
California State University Chico came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $72,207 per year.
University Of Nevada Reno landed the #6 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a public school located in the city of Reno. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,079.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $67,979 annually.
University Of Oregon came in at #8 for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from University Of Oregon typically earn about $60,722 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #9 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $68,424 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #10 for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $64,880 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #11 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,411.
California State University Northridge ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from California State University Northridge typically earn about $75,692 annually.
California State University Long Beach earned the #13 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,468.
Sonoma State University earned the #14 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Sonoma State University is a public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,614.
Portland Community College landed the #15 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,714.
Portland State University earned the #16 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Portland State University is a public school located in the city of Portland. Geography And Cartography graduates of Portland State University earn a median of about $45,964 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $38,648 annually.
California State University Fullerton placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $52,460 a year early in their careers.
Humboldt State University earned the #19 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of about $50,093 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University landed the #20 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $50,547 per year.
Central Washington University landed the #21 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Central Washington University is a public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Early-career geography and cartography graduates from Central Washington University make a median of around $51,964 per year.
Western Washington University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Western Washington University is a public school located in the city of Bellingham. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $54,097 annually.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. California State University Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $33,727 annually.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo landed the #24 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Set in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of University Of Hawaii At Hilo earn a median of about $30,293 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their geography and cartography graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
