Geography and Environmental Studies
Geography and Environmental Studies graduates earn an average annual wage of $119,758, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 21,700 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$6,178 Median In-State Public
$26,338 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Geography and Environmental Studies majors are, on average, $6,178 for in-state public colleges, and $26,338 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Geography and Environmental Studies programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
1,008 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Geography and Environmental Studies from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Geography and Environmental Studies.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University | UT | 32,221 |
| 2 | Ohio University-Main Campus | OH | 18,456 |
| 3 | Modesto Junior College | CA | 14,714 |
| 4 | Western Washington University | WA | 13,574 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | MD | 10,434 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Geography and Environmental Studies programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto Junior College | CA | $1,270 |
| 2 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus | OH | $6,178 |
| 3 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | OH | $6,178 |
| 4 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | OH | $6,178 |
| 5 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | OH | $6,178 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Geography and Environmental Studies programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus | OH | $4,503 |
| 2 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | OH | $5,328 |
| 3 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | OH | $5,971 |
| 4 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | OH | $6,133 |
| 5 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | OH | $6,483 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Geography and Environmental Studies programs.
Graduation Rates
59.36% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
57.43% Average Graduation Rate
144 Institutions Reporting
43.88% - 71.16% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Geography and Environmental Studies programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Geography and Environmental Studies graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$119,758 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Geography and Environmental Studies majors is $119,758.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Geography and Environmental Studies majors.
Occupations by Share
21,700 2023 Workforce
The number of Geography and Environmental Studies graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Geography and Environmental Studies by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Geography and Environmental Studies degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
ROI data is not available for this degree program.
Financial value comparison for Geography and Environmental Studies degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Geography and Environmental Studies in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Geography and Environmental Studies.
Age distribution for Geography and Environmental Studies degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Geography and Environmental Studies degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Geography and Environmental Studies degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Geography and Environmental Studies are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Geography and Environmental Studies.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Geography and Environmental Studies field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Geography and Environmental Studies majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Geography and Environmental Studies majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Geography and Environmental Studies majors.
About
Geography and Environmental Studies
In 2023, 1,008 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Geography and Environmental Studies.
CIP Code
00.3044 - Geography and Environmental Studies
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Geography and Environmental Studies graduates earn an average annual wage of $119,758, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.