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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where geography and cartography graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send geography and cartography graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked California State University Sacramento the top school for geography and cartography graduate earnings in California. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $66,360 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Fresno earned it the #2 place for geography and cartography. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from California State University Fresno typically earn about $53,372 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Chico earned it the #3 place for geography and cartography. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of about $72,207 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles produces some of the highest-paid graduates in geography and cartography, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $68,424 annually.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $64,880 annually.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #6 position for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $65,411 annually.
California State University Northridge placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Geography And Cartography graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $75,692 a year early in their careers.
California State University Long Beach landed the #8 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Set 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 placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,614.
San Diego State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying geography and cartography schools. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $38,648 annually.
California State University Fullerton placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for geography and cartography. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the geography and cartography program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,460.
Humboldt State University came in at #12 for geography and cartography graduate earnings this year. Humboldt State University is a public school located in the town of Arcata. After graduating, geography and cartography degree recipients from Humboldt State University typically earn about $50,093 annually.
San Francisco State University landed the #13 spot for geography and cartography salaries this year. Set 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.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #14 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. Geography And Cartography graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $33,727 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries geography and cartography graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 14 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.
