Best colleges for Geography and Cartography in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
George Mason University, James Madison University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the top bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. George Mason University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,568, College Scorecard. James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and University of Mary Washington award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Virginia: 64, 51 and 42 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Virginia colleges offer Geography and Cartography and award 240 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 3 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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,568 | 28 | 68% | — | $22,000 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,094 | 64 | 80% | — | $19,800 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,328 | 51 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Virginia
Top 9 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 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 64 | $45,094 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 51 | $39,328 |
| 3 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 42 | Not reported |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 28 | $49,568 |
| 5 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 6 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Radford University Radford Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 9 | Emory & Henry University Emory Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Geographers (SOC 19-3092).
Top skills
What Geographers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Geography and Cartography programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Geography and Cartography degrees?+
James Madison University (64 graduates a year), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (51 graduates a year) and University of Mary Washington (42 graduates a year) award the most Geography and Cartography degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Virginia colleges offer Geography and Cartography.
What is the best college for Geography and Cartography in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, George Mason University leads among bachelor's Geography and Cartography programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,568, College Scorecard. James Madison University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University follow. By degrees awarded, James Madison University is the largest, with 64 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Geography and Cartography program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, George Mason University tops the list at $49,568. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Geographers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Geographers in Virginia is $112,100 (median $108,020), across about 130 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.
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