2023 Most Popular Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California
98
Ranked Colleges
1,251
Degrees Awarded
$30,000
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Geography Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Geography & Cartography is the 110th most popular major in the country with 8,526 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 1,251 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,079 and $14,221 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Geography Major in California” ranking analyzed 98 colleges that offered a degree in geography and cartography. To top this list, a school must have a successful geography and cartography program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Geography & Cartography Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Geography Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Most Well Attended Geography Major in California
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Geography Major in California”.
Top 29 Most Popular Colleges for Geography & Cartography in California
Out of the 98 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of California - Los Angeles
Out of the 98 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 119 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full UCSB Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 98 schools in the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 81 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at CSULB
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 63 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at USC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 45 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at CSUN
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sonoma State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Sonoma State University Geography & Cartography Report
San Diego State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at SDSU
San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full San Francisco State University Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #9, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Cal State Fullerton Geography & Cartography Report
California State University - Sacramento landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Sac State
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Cal Poly Pomona
Humboldt State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University Geography & Cartography Report
University of Redlands ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Redlands
Pasadena City College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Located in Pasadena, California, this large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Pasadena City College
With a ranking of #15, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Located in Norwalk, California, this fairly large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Cerritos College
With a ranking of #16, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 13 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UC Davis
Orange Coast College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Orange Coast College is a fairly large public school situated in Costa Mesa, California. It awarded 13 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Orange Coast College Geography & Cartography Report
California State University - Chico came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 California State University - Chico Geography & Cartography Report
American River College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
Full American River Geography & Cartography Report
Foothill College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Foothill College
San Diego Mesa College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 19 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Full San Diego Mesa College Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #21, Palomar College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Palomar College
With a ranking of #23, Saddleback College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Saddleback College Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #23, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at California State University - Stanislaus
Fullerton College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Geography Major in California ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Fullerton College
With a ranking of #23, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 9 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - East Bay Geography & Cartography Report
Ventura College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Ventura College is a public institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Ventura College
Santa Monica College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. SMC is a large school located in Santa Monica, California that handed out 9 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Santa Monica College
Long Beach City College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Geography Major in California list. Long Beach City College is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 9 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Long Beach City College Geography & Cartography Report
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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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