Compare 141 Geography. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $44,110. Top programs: $65,748+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Geography programs tell a different story. Across 141 programs, earnings range from $54,449 to $65,748—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
University of Maryland-College Park's Geography program leads with graduates earning $65,748, followed closely by Michigan State University at $65,193. The average across all programs is $44,110, yet these regional publics demonstrate that program-level excellence matters more than institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Maryland graduates borrow $19,000 and face just a 6.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. UCLA achieves an even better debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 with graduates able to clear their student debt with minimal budget impact.
Highest program earnings: $65,748
Strong outcomes ($65,193) with 84% acceptance
5.1% payment burden | Excellent
12.5% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $65,748 | 52 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $65,193 | 17 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $64,337 | 63 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $61,313 | 65 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $60,363 | 156 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $60,251 | 31 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $58,950 | 7 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $57,825 | 134 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $57,435 | 98 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Rowan UniversityPublic | $57,420 | 38 | $20,500 | Good | $27,445 | Challenging |
| #11 | $56,375 | 13 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $56,297 | 19 | $23,188 | Good | $18,635 | Challenging | |
| #13 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $55,864 | 21 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #14 | $55,745 | 21 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | |
| #15 | $55,516 | 29 | $23,833 | Good | $19,000 | Challenging | |
| #16 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $55,054 | 59 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #17 | $54,884 | 33 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $54,651 | 18 | $24,000 | Good | $18,866 | Challenging |
| #19 | $54,616 | 60 | $19,500 | Good | $46,340 | High | |
| #20 | $54,449 | 82 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #21 | University Of FloridaPublic | $54,432 | 21 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Manageable |
| #22 | Towson UniversityPublic | $54,422 | 40 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #23 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $53,830 | 37 | $18,500 | Good | $27,270 | Challenging |
| #24 | $52,882 | 27 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Manageable | |
| #25 | $52,747 | 46 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
