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2023 Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography

64 Ranked Colleges
249 Degrees Awarded
$33,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 249 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 64 colleges that offered a degree in geography and cartography. To top this list, a school must have a successful geography and cartography program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 17 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UCSB Geography & Cartography Report

2

Out of the 64 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - College Park landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UMCP

3
Clark crest
Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clark University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Clark University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Clark

3
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Texas State University is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 11 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Texas State Geography & Cartography Report

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 64 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 9 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Michigan State University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geography degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UMN Twin Cities

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geography degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Geography & Cartography Report

8
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #8. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Florida Geography & Cartography Report

8

University of California - Davis ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 7 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of California - Davis

8

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 7 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Madison

8

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Geography & Cartography Report

12

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Geography & Cartography at Ohio State University - Main Campus

12
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Georgia is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 6 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UGA Geography & Cartography Report

12

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UW Seattle

12
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Buffalo, New York, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University at Buffalo

12
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #12. University of Kentucky is a large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 6 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UK Geography & Cartography Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Kent State is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 5 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Kent State University at Kent

17
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Arizona

17

University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #17. UNC Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Geography & Cartography Report

20

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, 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 90%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of South Carolina - Columbia

20

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

20
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 4 doctorate’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 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Utah

20

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s geography students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 UIUC

20
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s geography students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Rutgers New Brunswick Geography & Cartography Report

20

University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #20. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 4 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Geography & Cartography Report

20

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate list. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 more about Geography & Cartography at Louisiana State University

20

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #20. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 4 doctorate’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at ASU - Tempe

20

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #20. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s geography degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Geography & Cartography Report

20
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major for a Doctorate ranking. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Kansas

Notes and References

References

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