Geography & Cartography degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 535 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geography & cartography schools.
University Of California Santa Barbara tops our 2026 ranking of the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 50 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $37,398. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in geography & cartography, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $42,997. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong geography & cartography program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 103 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $42,489 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,504.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for geography & cartography. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 12 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $61,063 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for geography & cartography. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 24 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $40,913 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,441 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles landed the #6 spot for geography & cartography this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 60 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $36,776 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,969 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University earned the #7 position for geography & cartography this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 12 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #8 spot for geography & cartography this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $54,204. Typical student debt for the program is $16,479.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #9 among the best geography & cartography schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 21 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $42,454 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College earned the #10 position for geography & cartography this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 14 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
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James Madison University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography & cartography program make about $45,094 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #12 for geography & cartography this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 geography & cartography degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Geography & Cartography graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $48,227 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,881.
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San Diego State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 42 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from San Diego State University earn around $38,648 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,999.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #14 position for geography & cartography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $39,328 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #15 for geography & cartography this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 22 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #16 among the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $38,019 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #17 position for geography & cartography this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 34 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $36,878 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
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Michigan State University came in at #18 for geography & cartography this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
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George Mason University landed the #19 spot for geography & cartography this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 19 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from George Mason University earn around $49,568 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #20 for geography & cartography this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 27 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $35,426 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,826.
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Sonoma State University came in at #21 for geography & cartography this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 27 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography & cartography degree from Sonoma State University earn around $40,614 in the first couple years of their career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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University Of Denver ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $58,717 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #23 among the best geography & cartography schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $42,214 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #24 spot for geography & cartography this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 geography & cartography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography & cartography degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $38,726. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Brigham Young University Provo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best geography & cartography schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Brigham Young University Provo graduates 81% of students within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 30 geography & cartography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography & Cartography graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $40,051 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $10,360 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Geography & Cartography Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s geography & cartography ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 535 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
