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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Geography Schools in the Far Western Region

17 Colleges in the United States
425 Geography Degrees Awarded
$37,759 Avg Early-Career Salary

Geography degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 109 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best geography schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Geography in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the geography degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Geography

1

Our analysis ranked University Of California Santa Barbara the best school in the country for a degree in geography. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 21 geography degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $37,398 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. Get the full geography details for University Of California Santa Barbara

2

University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 53 geography degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $36,776 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,969. Read more about the geography program at University Of California Los Angeles

3

Students looking for a strong geography program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $48,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,881 to complete this degree. Get the full geography details for California State University Sacramento

4

San Diego State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 geography degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $38,648. Typical student debt for the program is $14,999. Get the full geography details for San Diego State University

5

California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in geography, ranking #5. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 41 geography degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $52,865. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. More information about a degree in geography from California State University Long Beach

6

California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #6 for geography this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 27 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $35,426. Students borrow a median of $15,826 to complete this degree. Read more about the geography program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona

7
Sonoma State University crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University placed #7 among the best geography schools. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 geography students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $40,614 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. See the full geography program report for Sonoma State University

8

California State University Northridge landed the #8 spot for geography this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 20 geography degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from California State University Northridge earn around $27,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in geography from California State University Northridge

9

California State University Fullerton earned the #9 position for geography this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 22 geography students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the geography program make about $26,040 in their early career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Read more about the geography program at California State University Fullerton

10

California State University Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for geography this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. About 17 geography degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $33,727 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in geography from California State University Los Angeles

11

San Francisco State University placed #11 among the best geography schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 19 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Geography graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $24,875 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,768. Get the full geography details for San Francisco State University

12
Santa Barbara City College crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara City College earned the #12 position for geography this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Barbara. About 11 geography degrees were awarded at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from Santa Barbara City College earn around $68,184 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,090. See the full geography program report for Santa Barbara City College

13

University Of Nevada Reno ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of Nevada Reno awarded about 10 geography degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $53,079. University Of Nevada Reno graduates carry a median of $19,918 in student loans. Read more about the geography program at University Of Nevada Reno

14

Western Washington University landed the #14 spot for geography this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 geography students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Western Washington University earn around $32,081 in the first couple years of their career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Get the full geography details for Western Washington University

15
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College came in at #15 for geography this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. There were roughly 12 geography students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their geography degree from Saddleback College earn around $15,890 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree. Read more about the geography program at Saddleback College

16

Portland State University earned the #16 position for geography this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Portland State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 22 geography degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their geography degree from Portland State University earn around $51,188 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. More information about a degree in geography from Portland State University

17

Humboldt State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best geography schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Arcata. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 10 geography degrees were awarded at Humboldt State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the geography program make about $27,355 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,412. Get the full geography details for Humboldt State University

18

University Of Hawaii At Hilo came in at #18 for geography this year. University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hilo. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 geography students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Hilo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Hilo generally make around $30,293. University Of Hawaii At Hilo graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full geography program report for University Of Hawaii At Hilo

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 109 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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