Compare 35 Geography. programs in the South. Average earnings: $48,942.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Geography programs tell a different story. Across 35 programs in the South, earnings range from $48,306 to $65,748—a $17K variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
University of Maryland-College Park's Geography program leads with graduates earning $65,748, well above the $48,942 regional average. Texas A&M follows at $64,337, while UT Austin reaches $61,313—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than institutional prestige alone.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Texas A&M graduates borrow $17,804 and face just a 5.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Maryland achieves similar affordability at 6.0% burden, proving that top Geography programs can deliver both strong outcomes and manageable debt loads.
Highest program earnings: $65,748
Strong outcomes ($64,337) with 63% acceptance
5.8% payment burden | Excellent
15.8% 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 | $64,337 | 63 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $61,313 | 65 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $60,251 | 31 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | |
| #5 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $55,864 | 21 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #6 | $55,745 | 21 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | |
| #7 | $55,516 | 29 | $23,833 | Good | $19,000 | Challenging | |
| #8 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $55,054 | 59 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #9 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $54,651 | 18 | $24,000 | Good | $18,866 | Challenging |
| #10 | University Of FloridaPublic | $54,432 | 21 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Manageable |
| #11 | Towson UniversityPublic | $54,422 | 40 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #12 | $51,068 | 28 | $21,500 | Good | $35,325 | High | |
| #13 | $50,944 | 28 | $20,654 | Good | $31,890 | High | |
| #14 | $50,526 | 24 | $20,231 | Good | $21,919 | Challenging | |
| #15 | Salisbury UniversityPublic | $50,200 | 29 | $21,000 | Good | $33,815 | High |
| #16 | $49,951 | 46 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $49,574 | 24 | $22,077 | Good | $18,000 | Challenging | |
| #18 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $49,126 | 11 | $22,500 | Good | $32,980 | High |
| #19 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $48,307 | 65 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #20 | $48,306 | 28 | $21,500 | Good | $31,393 | High | |
| #21 | $48,077 | 19 | $22,095 | Good | $18,310 | Challenging | |
| #22 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $47,688 | 43 | $18,500 | Good | $20,855 | Challenging |
| #23 | $47,222 | 28 | $20,500 | Good | $26,240 | High | |
| #24 | $45,328 | 17 | $21,983 | Manageable | $19,433 | High | |
| #25 | $45,199 | 22 | $20,500 | Manageable | $30,610 | High |
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 →
