North Carolina · Geography and Cartography

Best colleges for Geography and Cartography in North Carolina

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in North Carolina: 34, 28 and 11 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 North Carolina colleges offer Geography and Cartography and award 206 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
10
offering CIP 45.07
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
206
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$42,210
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$16,260
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
68%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Geographers
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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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,4542891%——
2University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,2103469%—$23,954
3Appalachian State University
Boone Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$41,6481175%—$17,750
4University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,975456%—$22,851

Top 2 certificate and associate programs

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

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
1Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree
$63,3564197%$16,260—
2North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public · Graduate degree
$55,3206085%—$20,868

Colleges awarding the most Geography and Cartography degrees in North Carolina

Top 8 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 North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public
34$42,210
2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public
28$42,454
3Appalachian State University
Boone Public
11$41,648
4East Carolina University
Greenville Public
10Not reported
5University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington Public
10Not reported
6Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville Public
7Not reported
7University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro Public
4$25,975
8Edgecombe Community College
Tarboro Public
1Not reported
Show the other 2 North Carolina colleges offering Geography and Cartography
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleighPublic60
Duke UniversityDurhamPrivate not-for-profit41

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 North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
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Related careers

Surveying and Mapping Technicians
$55,410 avg · 4,100 jobs
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
$79,250 avg · 900 jobs
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
$90,780 avg · 160 jobs
Geographers
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Geography and Cartography programs in North Carolina.

Which North Carolina colleges award the most Geography and Cartography degrees?+

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (34 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (28 graduates a year) and Appalachian State University (11 graduates a year) award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 North Carolina colleges offer Geography and Cartography.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops the list at $42,454. 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.

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