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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California (With Aid)

19 Ranked Colleges
656 Degrees Awarded
$12,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Geography & Cartography is the 107th most popular major in the country with 8,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,126 and had an average of $23,577 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,304 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,818 and $24,713 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 656 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography and cartography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The geography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California (With Aid)

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at California State University - Los Angeles

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $14,279 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCLA Geography & Cartography Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $7,991 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cal State Fullerton

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #4 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at California State University - Long Beach

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $8,414 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUN Geography & Cartography Report

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $5,464 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Fresno

#7

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 98 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at UCSB

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 12 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stan State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $6,019 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Stan State

California State University - Sacramento ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Sac State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Sac State

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 32 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $14,788 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at San Diego State University

#11

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#18 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid list, CSUSB has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $7,342 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid per year to attend CSUSB.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full California State University - San Bernardino Geography & Cartography Report

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 27 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $12,734 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cal Poly Pomona

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,113 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid per year to attend San Francisco State University.

Full San Francisco State University Geography & Cartography Report

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#10 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $14,928 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at San Jose State

#16 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at Cal State East Bay

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,017 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid per year to attend Chico State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Chico

#17

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Rohnert Park, California. It awarded 23 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid list, SSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,478 for california bachelor’s degree geography students with aid per year to attend Sonoma State University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Sonoma State University Geography & Cartography Report

#18

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University also took the #19 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,692 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.

Full Humboldt State University Geography & Cartography Report

#19

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 13 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $29,528 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Southern California.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Southern California

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Couleur.

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