Degree Dividend
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Best colleges for Geography and Cartography in California

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, California State University-Sacramento leads: its Geography and Cartography graduates earn a median $75,234 four years after finishing, against the field's $57,853 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

California Geography and Cartography programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1California State University-Sacramento$75,234+$17,381
2California State University-Chico$69,500+$11,647
3California State University-Northridge$69,323+$11,470

How big is the earnings gap between California Geography programs?

$5,911 separates the top and bottom of this list — $75,234 at California State University-Sacramento against $69,323 at California State University-Northridge, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do California Geography graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $17,381 above the $57,853 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which California college is best for Geography and Cartography?
By graduate earnings, California State University-Sacramento — its Geography and Cartography bachelor's graduates earn a median $75,234 four years out, the highest of the 3 California programs in the federal file.
What do Geography and Cartography graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $69,323 to $75,234. The field's national median is $57,853.
Is a Geography and Cartography degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Geography and Cartography graduates earn $9,493/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.