Best colleges for Geography and Cartography in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Sacramento, Sonoma State University and San Diego State University are the top bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - Sacramento leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,227, College Scorecard. University of California-Santa Barbara, University of California-Los Angeles and University of Southern California award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in California: 79, 74 and 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 86 California colleges offer Geography and Cartography and award 1,019 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Geography and Cartography program focuses on the study of spatial relationships and the creation of maps and visual representations of geographical data. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the physical and…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,227 | 28 | 56% | — | $15,881 |
| 2 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,614 | 22 | 58% | — | $11,000 |
| 3 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,648 | 41 | 76% | — | $14,999 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,398 | 79 | 83% | — | $13,750 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,776 | 74 | 93% | — | $13,969 |
| 6 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,198 | 52 | 69% | — | $15,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,002 | 39 | 57% | — | $8,250 |
| 8 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,380 | 11 | 63% | — | $19,250 |
| 9 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,426 | 12 | 68% | — | $15,826 |
| 10 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,727 | 13 | 53% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Geography and Cartography degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 79 | $37,398 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 74 | $36,776 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 69 | Not reported |
| 4 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 52 | $32,198 |
| 5 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 41 | $38,648 |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 39 | $27,002 |
| 8 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 28 | $48,227 |
| 10 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 28 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 76 California colleges offering Geography and Cartography
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Geographers (SOC 19-3092).
Top skills
What Geographers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Geography and Cartography programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Geography and Cartography degrees?+
University of California-Santa Barbara (79 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (74 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (69 graduates a year) award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 86 California colleges offer Geography and Cartography.
What is the best college for Geography and Cartography in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - Sacramento leads among bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,227, College Scorecard. Sonoma State University and San Diego State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Santa Barbara is the largest, with 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Geography and Cartography program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Sacramento tops the list at $48,227. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Geographers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Geographers in California is $114,310 (median $114,460), across about 80 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Geography and Cartography program?+
The Geography and Cartography program focuses on the study of spatial relationships and the creation of maps and visual representations of geographical data. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the physical and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Geographers?+
The national job outlook is about -3.1% growth with around 100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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