Social Sciences

Geography and Cartography

Colleges award this field under 3 named programs, from Geography to Geography, Other.

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Inside the major

Programs within this field

Colleges may offer this field under 3 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.

Geography: Focuses on the systematic study of the spatial distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resources, plant and animal life. Covers historical and political geography, cultural geography, economic and physical geography, regional science, cartographic methods, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and applications to areas such as land-use planning, development studies, and analyses of specific countries, regions, and resources.
Geographic Information Science and Cartography: Focuses on the systematic study of map-making and the application of mathematical, computer, and other techniques to the analysis of large amounts of geographic data and the science of mapping geographic information. Covers cartographic theory and map projections, computer-assisted cartography, geographic information systems, map design and layout, photogrammetry, air photo interpretation, remote sensing, spatial analysis, geodesy, cartographic editing, and applications to specific industrial, commercial, research, and governmental mapping problems.
Geography, Other: Geography not listed above.

Where it can lead

Careers this field can lead to

Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.

Growing with the economy

Managers, All Other

Median pay: $141,900
Hiring change through 2035: 4.9%
Job openings a year: 100,900

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Median pay: $54,240
Hiring change through 2035: 5.8%
Job openings a year: 6,900

To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $97,590
Hiring change through 2035: 2.7%
Job openings a year: 300

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

Explore this career Shrinking

Geographers

Median pay: $102,040
Hiring change through 2035: −2.1%
Job openings a year: 100

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Median pay: $81,390
Hiring change through 2035: 7.4%
Job openings a year: 900

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career

All work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $34,932 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.

Working style

How and where the work happens

Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.

0%of related openings involve substantial in-person or active work

Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.

College options

Where to study it

Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.

College	Degrees a year	Earnings, first year out	Admit rate	Average annual cost after aid
Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ	114	$39,324	64%	—
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA	86	$43,618	43%	$8,000
University of California-Santa Barbara CA	81	$32,729	28%	$13,000
University of California-Los Angeles CA	62	$36,662	9%	$10,000
James Madison University VA	61	$40,555	76%	$16,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI	53	$31,655	43%	$8,000
Texas State University TX	49	$40,509	89%	$14,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ	48	$39,324	90%	$17,000
Texas A & M University-College Station TX	48	$47,779	63%	$17,000
California State University-Long Beach CA	46	$36,016	47%	$10,000
Brigham Young University UT	46	$39,884	69%	$13,000
United States Military Academy NY	45	—	14%	—
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN	44	$32,755	77%	$10,000
Kennesaw State University GA	44	$37,238	69%	$15,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH	43	$38,932	51%	$10,000
The University of Texas at Austin TX	43	$39,114	29%	$17,000
San Diego State University CA	42	—	34%	$13,000
Sonoma State University CA	42	—	95%	$11,000
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO	41	$32,055	78%	$11,000
University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO	39	$31,890	97%	$12,000
California State University-Sacramento CA	37	$40,926	94%	$9,000
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA	37	$33,269	57%	$18,000
University of Arizona AZ	36	—	86%	$16,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA	36	$34,075	74%	$11,000
University of Georgia GA	36	—	37%	$13,000
University of North Texas TX	35	—	72%	$14,000
University of Utah UT	34	$38,063	87%	$14,000
University at Buffalo NY	32	$31,417	69%	$21,000
Rowan University NJ	31	$38,975	78%	$19,000
University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC	31	$35,230	80%	$14,000
California State University-Northridge CA	29	$41,876	93%	$8,000
Oregon State University OR	29	$32,965	79%	$16,000
United States Air Force Academy CO	28	—	14%	—
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC	28	$30,398	19%	$9,000
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire WI	28	$28,551	76%	$13,000
Michigan State University MI	27	$27,724	84%	$17,000
University of Oregon OR	27	$30,229	85%	$18,000
George Washington University DC	26	—	44%	$22,000
University of Denver CO	24	—	71%	$23,000
University of Maryland-College Park MD	24	$43,789	45%	$10,000

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