Colorado · Geography and Cartography

Best colleges for Geography and Cartography in Colorado

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado Colorado Springs are the top bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,104, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Denver and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Colorado: 69, 68 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Colorado colleges offer Geography and Cartography and award 319 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…

Institutions
12
offering CIP 45.07
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
319
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$36,996
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$29,726
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Geographers
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,1044446%—$22,468
2University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,9962251%——
3University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,4266947%—$17,500
4Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$44,861832%—$35,136

Colleges awarding the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Colorado

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public
69$36,426
2University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit
68Not reported
3University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public
44$39,104
4Fort Lewis College
Durango Public
31Not reported
5Front Range Community College
Westminster Public
28Not reported
6United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy Public
26Not reported
7University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public
22$36,996
8Western Colorado University
Gunnison Public
9Not reported
9Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public
8$44,861
10Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public
6Not reported
Show the other 2 Colorado colleges offering Geography and Cartography
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionPublic4
Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado SpringsPublic4

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Geographers (SOC 19-3092).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-3.1%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$97,200
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

WritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningActive Learning

What Geographers earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
90
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Surveying and Mapping Technicians
$60,020 avg · 2,340 jobs
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
$94,460 avg · 1,220 jobs
Geographers
— avg · 90 jobs
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Geography and Cartography programs in Colorado.

Which Colorado colleges award the most Geography and Cartography degrees?+

University of Colorado Colorado Springs (69 graduates a year), University of Denver (68 graduates a year) and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (44 graduates a year) award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Colorado colleges offer Geography and Cartography.

What is the best college for Geography and Cartography in Colorado?+

By graduate earnings, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus leads among bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,104, College Scorecard. University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado Colorado Springs follow. By degrees awarded, University of Colorado Colorado Springs is the largest, with 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Geography and Cartography program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus tops the list at $39,104. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card