by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Signal/Geospatial Intelligence covers Signal/geospatial Intelligence. A Program That Focuses On The Theory, Technology And Operational Aspects Of Collecting, Processing And Exploiting Remote-Sensed, Radar, Acoustic And Other Forms Of Signals Intelligence. Includes Instruction In Applied Physics, Wave Propagation And Capture, Radar Systems, Acoustics And Underwater Systems, Infrared Systems, Synthetic Aperture Systems, Collection And Processing Systems, Signal Phenomenology, Signal Analysis And Exploitation, And Applications To Specific Intelligence Problems. Examples: [Advanced Geospatial Intelligence]. Read on to learn the important information every signal/geospatial intelligence student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering signal/geospatial intelligence programs.
Across the country, signal/geospatial intelligence is a widely-pursued major, with 52 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Signal/Geospatial Intelligence Schools ranking analyzes these 8 schools to determine the best overall colleges for signal/geospatial intelligence students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of signal/geospatial intelligence programs later in this article.
Coursework for Signal/Geospatial Intelligence build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations signal/geospatial intelligence graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a signal/geospatial intelligence program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a signal/geospatial intelligence major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several signal/geospatial intelligence degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 47 |
People currently working in careers related to signal/geospatial intelligence tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 30.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.6% |
| Some college courses | 18.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in signal/geospatial intelligence careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying signal/geospatial intelligence opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to signal/geospatial intelligence.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to signal/geospatial intelligence.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 55,239 | -4.8% |
| Special Forces | 40,649 | 4.1% |
| Special Forces Officers | 31,860 | 5.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of signal/geospatial intelligence graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,824 |
| 4 years | $63,738 |
| 5 years | $74,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for signal/geospatial intelligence graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers signal/geospatial intelligence grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Special Forces Officers | $73,745 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
| Special Forces | $56,978 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $56,771 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $52,907 |
With 8 different signal/geospatial intelligence programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased signal/geospatial intelligence school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in signal/geospatial intelligence, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
