by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, geography was the 159th most popular major nationwide with 4,954 degrees awarded. This represents a 10.5% reduction in geography degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 5,476.
Our 2023 Best Geography Schools ranking analyzes 206 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for geography students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of geography programs later in this article.
Geography majors are found most commonly in careers in which communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific geography careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of geography degrees. You can get anything from a in geography to the highest geography degree, a . The type of geography degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to geography, with approximately 45.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for geography workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 29.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.2% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.1% |
About 93.5% of workers in careers related to geography obtain at least bachelor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in geography careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the geography career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your geography degree? Geography careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to geography.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Geography Professors | 5,400 | 8.0% |
| Geographers | 1,700 | 13.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for geography graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for geography graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers geography grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Geography Professors | $88,950 |
| Geographers | $80,530 |
With over 717 different geography degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased geography school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Geography & Cartography area of study, Geography has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Science | 3,231 |
| Other Geography | 341 |
