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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California

98 Ranked Colleges
1,251 Degrees Awarded
$29,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 8,526 people earned their degree in geography and cartography, making the major the 110th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,251 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,079 and $14,221 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California” ranking analyzed 98 colleges that offered a degree in geography and cartography. That schools that top this list have a program in geography and cartography in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California

1
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sonoma State University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California. Located in Rohnert Park, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at SSU

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 119 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Geography & Cartography Report

3
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Redlands. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. University of Redlands is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Redlands, California. It awarded 22 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Redlands

4
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Out of the 98 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Humboldt State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Humboldt State University

5

Out of the 98 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 155 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of California - Los Angeles

6

California State University - Long Beach ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 81 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSULB Geography & Cartography Report

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at SFSU

8
San Diego Mesa College crest
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, California

San Diego Mesa College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. San Diego Mesa College is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at San Diego Mesa College

9
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Lake Tahoe Community College
South Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Tahoe Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. This small school is located in South Lake Tahoe, California, and it awarded 1 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full LTCC Geography & Cartography Report

10
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, California

Foothill College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Foothill College Geography & Cartography Report

11

California State University - Sacramento landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 37 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Sac State Geography & Cartography Report

12
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #12, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 44 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at San Diego State University

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 45 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at CSUN

14
Cosumnes River crest
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, California

With a ranking of #14, Cosumnes River College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. Located in Sacramento, California, this fairly large public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

Full Cosumnes River Geography & Cartography Report

15
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Cerritos College
Norwalk, California

With a ranking of #15, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cerritos College

16

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cal Poly Pomona

17

California State University - Fullerton came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cal State Fullerton

18
American River crest
American River College
Sacramento, California

American River College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. American River is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at American River College

19

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Stanislaus

20
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 63 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Southern California

21

California State University - Chico came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 13 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Chico

22
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California

Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Costa Mesa, California, this fairly large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Orange Coast College

23
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Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California

Pasadena City College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Pasadena City College

24
West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, California

West Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. West Valley College is located in Saratoga, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at West Valley College

25
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, California

Palomar College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Palomar College is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 24 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Palomar College Geography & Cartography Report

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